Automated hair isolation and processing system

ABSTRACT

A device comprised of hair-flow-channel guides continuously moved over the surface of the scalp. A track cap of parallel tracks is placed on the head to guide device&#39;s movement over the scalp along non-overlapping rows. At the front of the device is a hair-tensioning straightener that pulls hairs perpendicular to the scalp before and during processing. A bend-under assembly, formed by two pinching conveyer belts, facilitates hair exit from the channels by bending scalp-attached hairs beneath the walls of each hair channel. Intermittent intersection of each channel by an obstructing member isolates one or a few leading hairs for processing and forces trailing hairs to wait their turn for cosmetic processing behind it. Isolated scalp hairs may be cosmetically processed in ways including coloration; cross-section reshaping, hair-extension attachment and removal, and cutting to length according to position along track. Hair extensions removed at one position along a track cap are conveyed to corresponding holding clips and loaded in an order so as to permit their reattachment to the same scalp area. Hair extensions so held can be channeled and isolated for attachment, as are scalp hairs. A bend-under assembly can be used to draw one or a group of isolated hairs longitudinally through the chamber in which they are isolated facilitating cross-sectional reshaping of hairs or cutting to a preprogrammed length. Intersecting member and cosmetic processing actuation synchronized by computer.

This application claims benefit of provisional application 60/063,574filed Oct. 30, 1997.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field of this invention is the hair-care industry,specifically, the industry responsible for beautification of hair on thehuman head.

BACKGROUND ART

This invention relates to an electromechanical system that canautomatically isolate individual head hairs and mechanically processthem in isolation so as to beautify them. For example, by attaching oneor a very few hair extensions to one or a very few scalp hairs.

It is well known that isolation of small numbers of skin-attached hairsis useful in the art of hair beautification. For example, highlightingrequires the isolation of a small number of scalp hairs so that acoloring agent can be applied selectively to them, and many hairextension application techniques require the isolation of a small numberof scalp hairs so that hair extensions can be attached to them. Likewisehair isolation is useful in other hair beautification procedures such ascurling the hair.

Several handheld tools that aid in the isolation of skin-attached hairshave been previously developed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,678,891issued to Walsh on Jul. 31, 1928, discloses a hair waver that usescooperating combs with isolation comb teeth mounted on a hinged assemblyso as to isolate multiple strands in parallel when said assembly isclosed. The isolated multiple strands are then waved in parallel byintroducing, a second set of moving comb teeth into the isolated strandsof hair. One comb tooth is introduced into each isolated strand andmoved so as to force said strand significantly laterally against one ofthe isolation comb teeth so as to form a wave in the hair strand. Thus,multiple hair strands are given separate waves at the same time. Toprocesses a second batch of hairs, the assembly's hinge must be openedand the device must be reoriented on another area of the scalp.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,018,542 issued to Lee May 28, 1991, discloses aninstrument for selectively separating strands of hair comprising a comband handle assembly with a multitude of hooks placed significantly onthe opposite side of the assembly relative to the comb's teeth. The combportion is used to comb out a relatively flat lock of scalp hair. Next,the assembly is flipped over facilitating the introduction of the hooksinto the flat lock of hair. The hooks are then moved away from said flatlock carrying with them small isolated locks of hair. Thus, a multitudeof hair strands is isolated in separate groups at the same time.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,108,186 issued to Esposto Aug. 22, 1978, discloses acomb for subdividing hair strands. It is a comb that has two lengths ofhair channels between its teeth, shallow and deep. When combed into alock of hair, the lock of hair is divided between the shallow and deepchannels. At this point a sliding member is drawn across the channels soas to intersect them and trap all of the deep-channel hairs in the deadends of the deep channels. This leaves the hairs in the shallow channelsisolated and ready for subsequent treatment.

The above three prior-art devices characterize handheld prior-artdevices for the isolation of skin-attached hairs. They all share acommon disadvantage in that they can only isolate one batch of hairs ata time before they must be reoriented with considerable manual effort sothat they may be brought into contact with another batch. They cannotsimply be moved continuously along the scalp as they perform repeatedisolation cycles. For example, Esposto's comb traps one batch of scalphairs at channel dead ends behind a sliding finger or channelobstruction member. However, in order to repeat the process, itsoperator must release these hairs and manually comb it through hair on adifferent portion of the scalp.

The present invention eliminates this disadvantage allowing multipleprocessing cycles to occur without reorientation as the device is movedcontinuously relative the skin surface. Although the preferredembodiment of the present invention contains a sliding channelobstruction member superficially similar to the sliding finger describedby Esposto, the two channel obstruction implementations are quitedifferent. The present invention uses its channel obstruction means toallow a limited number of hairs entry into an isolation area whiledenying many hairs behind it entry. Unprocessed hairs are forced to waittheir turn behind it (behind relative to the direction of hair-flowmovement through the system). In essence, unprocessed hairs wait inbunches ready to be nibbled away by the incisive action of the channelobstruction means. This configuration facilitates greatly increasedprocessing rapidity and makes isolating much smaller bunches of hairmuch more practical. Its continuous mechanical operations are moreconsistent with automation via a sequencing control means such as acomputer than are those of the above prior art devices.

Although the embodiment of this invention described in the greatestdetail, herein, is for automated attachment of hair extensions, avariant of it makes possible highly precise automated haircutting. Thereare automated haircutting devices in the prior art. However, the mostsimilar one we know of is only capable of cutting the hair one lengthbefore user interaction is required. This device consists of arelatively conventional electric hair trimmer mounted in a bracket thatholds said trimmer portion a fixed height over the scalp while at thesame time supplying a vacuum source above said trimmer portion. Thevacuum source both holds hairs straight upward so that they all get cutat the same length and carries away hair trimmings. The problem withthis system is that it produces a haircut in which every hair on thehead is cut to the same length, unlike most professional haircuts whichhave many lengths, and this length is limited to a maximum far belowthat required for most women's hairstyles. My hair-isolation-basedsystem will not have these limitations. It can cut hairs to differentlengths at different positions on the head, as professional hairstylistwould by hand. Also, it can be used in highly precise application ofconventional hair-salon preparations including permanent curlingformulas, hair relaxing formulas and colorants.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Automated isolation of one or a very few scalp hairs as a group opens upmany hair beautification opportunities that simply are not feasibleotherwise. This invention, an electro-mechanical device, automaticallyisolates individual head hairs and mechanically processes them inisolation so as to beautify the hair on a person's head.

When I speak of processing individual hairs in isolation, I am referringto one of several mechanical processes. The first is to isolate singlehairs growing from a person's scalp and then to bind one or a very fewcosmetic hair extension to them. Said hair extensions are bound ideallyto the sides of scalp hairs in a position near but not touching thescalp. Said hair-to-hair binding uses a means that is virtuallyinvisible to the eye and imperceptible to the touch. Most preferably,this binding only occurs between a single scalp hair and one or a veryfew cosmetic hair extensions. Ideally, the binding does not occurbetween two or more scalp hairs, nor are the hair extensions bounddirectly to the scalp.

A second way or processing individual hairs in isolation is to reshapetheir cross-sectional shapes or diameters. This reshaping is desirablebecause the perceived aggregate texture of a hairstyle depends both onthe cross-sectional shape and diameter of each hair. Once individualscalp hairs are isolated in surrounding structures or orifices, they canbe processed so as to change their cross-sectional shape and diameter bybeing drawn through said surrounding structures.

Hair isolation also makes possible application of coloring agents togroups of one or a very few hairs at a time. This is desirable for, atleast, two reasons. First, natural hair color is made up of slightlydifferent colored hair strands. Conventional color-application attempts,however, often make the hair appear unnaturally the same color all over.Thus, controlled application of colors to specific isolated hairs is away of countering this. Second, application of colorants to individualhairs makes possible the use of types of colorants that couldn't beapplied to all the hair at once. For example, opaque colorantsfunctionally equivalent to opaque printing inks couldn't be applied toall of the hairs on the head at once. This is because the adhesivebinder that is necessary to hold the opaque pigments is so sticky thatit would stick many hairs together if applied to them a consolidatedgroup. However, such pigments might be feasibly applied to very limitednumbers of hairs in isolation. Additionally, isolated application ofother coatings used for hair-care can be applied is the manner, such ashair permanent curling and waving solutions, hair relaxers, and hairconventional hair colorants.

The central processing mechanism of this system takes on aconfiguration, in many ways, very similar to the front of an electrichair trimmer. This is to say that it has a comb-like structureexternally resembling that of an electric hair trimmer, and is runthrough the hair in a manner similar to an electric hair trimmer. Likean electric hair trimmer, it has open channels, between the tines of itscomb-like structure, which allow hairs to move between them. Also likean electric hair trimmer, it is composed of several layers that canslide relative to each other, and in doing so, narrow the hair holdingchannels in places. In the case of the electric hair trimmer, thischannel-narrowing results in hairs within said channels being cut. Inthe case of my invention, this channel narrowing results in individualhairs being isolated and then processed in various ways. Althoughelectric hair trimmers are usually composed of only two superimposedcomb-like structures sliding relative to each other. My device mighthave twenty or more comb-like layers superimposed on each other, eachslightly different in structure and function from the one below it, somemoving other remaining stationary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: Floor level of attachment stack. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 1.1 Floor level fragmentary view of front (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 2: Bend-under belt assembly with hair-flow pathway guide shown as awire-frame. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 2.1: Bend-under belt assembly with hair-flow pathway guide shown asa wire-frame. (Top-Left-Side Perspective View.)

FIG. 2.2: Bend-under belts shown in isolation. (Top-Left-SidePerspective View.)

FIG. 3: Nozzle wall level. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 4: Functioning of nozzle outputs. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 5: Functioning of UV outputs. (Top Back Perspective View.)

FIG. 6: Nozzle wall level. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 7: Attachment stack level that encloses a glass prism channel forcarrying UV light. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 8: Glass prism channel for carrying UV light connected to fiberoptic cable. (Top Back Perspective view.)

FIG. 9: Pincher function relative to both adhesive and UV light outputs.(Perspective view from back.)

FIG. 10: Pincher structure. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 11: UV output roof level. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 12: Hair sensor circuits. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 12.1: Hair sensor circuits. (Fragmentary View of Rear of Topsurface shown in perspective View.)

FIG. 13: Protective level over sensor circuits. (Top Front PerspectiveView.)

FIGS. 14-14.2: Pencil diagrams to illustrate entrance and pushback gatesconceptually by showing sequential movement. (Perspective View.)

FIGS. 15-15.2:. Pencil diagrams to illustrate multiple-pushback gatesconceptually by showing sequential movement. (Perspective View.)

FIG. 16: Pincher-tine level relative to the level directly below it.(Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 16.1: Pincher-tine level relative to the level directly below it.(Fragmentary View of the front shown from a top front Perspective View.)

FIG. 16.2: A single fragmentary pincher tine shown relative to a singlehair-flow-channel guide. The channel guide is drawn as a wire-frame.(Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 17: Hairs and hair extensions held together by attachment a bead ineach pincher chamber. (Predominately right side perspective view.)

FIGS. 18-18.2: Sequential views of single pincher chamber shown closingaround a scalp hair and hair extension in sequential views. (Perspectiveview.)

FIG. 19: Tine assembly that is a combination entrance gate and channelnarrower for scalp hairs shown positioned above underlying hair-flowchannel guide. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 20: Tine assembly that is a combination entrance gate and channelnarrower for hair extensions shown positioned above underlying hair-flowchannel guide. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 21: Tine assembly of scalp-hair-multiple-pushback gates shownpositioned above underlying hair-flow channel guide. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 22: Tine assembly of slide-out preventer gates shown positionedabove both the underlying hair-flow-channel guide and the tine assemblyof scalp-hair-multiple-pushback gates shown by FIG. 21. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 23: Tine assembly of hair-extension-multiple-pushback gates shownpositioned above underlying hair-flow-channel guide. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 24: Tine assembly of hair pullback hooks shown positioned aboveunderlying hair-flow-channel guide. Said pullback hooks help hairs moveto the back the exit channel. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 25: Single hair-flow channel shown in isolation illustrating thefunction of the pullback hook relative to the underlyinghair-flow-channel guide. (Perspective view from a left-front-top angle.)

FIG. 26: Typical level of the hair hopper. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 27: A hair hopper level illustrating the cross-section ofspring-pins running through it. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 27.1: Fragmentary front illustrating key structures of the hairhopper. (Top Plan View.)

FIG. 28: A hair-hopper level illustrating the cross-section ofspring-pins running through it. It represents the level of the stack ontop of that depicted by FIG. 27. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 29: A hair hopper level illustrating the cross-section ofspring-pins running through it. It represents the level stack on top ofthat depicted by FIG. 28. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 30: A hair hopper level illustrating the cross-section ofspring-pins running through it. It represents the level stack on top ofthat depicted by FIG. 29. (Top Front Perspective View.)

FIG. 31: Spring-pin assembly shown in isolation. (Top-front-leftperspective view.)

FIG. 32; Clip cartridge. (Top Front perspective view.)

FIG. 32.1: Clip cartridge. (Bottom Back perspective view.)

FIG. 32.2: Single hair-extension clip in isolation. (Top Frontperspective view.)

FIG. 33: Clip cartridge shown engaged with spring pins. (Top Frontperspective view.)

FIG. 33.1: Single clip engaged with single spring pin. (Top Frontperspective view.)

FIG. 34: Abbreviated attachment stack showing only the mostrepresentative levels. (Top front perspective view.)

FIG. 35: Clip cartridge with rubber band. (Top left perspective view.)

FIG. 36: Function of spring pin and clip relative to the topmost levelof the attachment stack. (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 36.1: Enlarged fragmentary view of frontal region showing functionof spring pin and clip relative to the topmost level of the attachmentstack. (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIGS. 37-37.1: Sequential drawings illustrating using a paintbrush brushand finger to illustrate by analogy the importance of the straighteningpeg. (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 38: Results of not having a straightening peg illustrated by anenlarged fragmentary view of frontal region showing function of springpin (without its straightening peg) and hair-extension clip relative tothe topmost level of the attachment stack. (Top-front-left perspectiveview.)

FIG. 39: Clip cartridge atop abbreviated attachment stack. (Top frontperspective view.)

FIG. 39.1: Clip cartridge atop abbreviated attachment stack.(Fragmentary top back perspective view.)

FIG. 40: Illustration of tine-actuation cables shown using two isolatedtine assembly levels and the control rod that controls their path ofmovement. (Top front perspective view.)

FIG. 41: Step series 1 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top Plan Viewof entrance-gate-tine-assembly levels relative to the underlyinghair-flow-channel guides and cross-sections of both scalp hairs and hairextensions.)

FIG. 42: Step series 2 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top Plan Viewof multiple-pushback-gate-tine-assembly levels relative to theunderlying hair-flow-channel guides and cross-sections of both scalphairs and hair extensions.)

FIG. 43: Step series 2 of attachment algorithm. (Left side view throughthe center of a representative hair-flow pathway.)

FIG. 44: Conceptual illustration of scalp hair and hair extensionmetering illustrating the most relevant structures of a hair-flowchannel from a right side perspective view.

FIG. 45: Visual analogy comparing bristles of paintbrush to hairs in aholding clip shown from a left side view through the center of arepresentative hair-flow pathway.

FIG. 46: Step series 3 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top plan viewof multiple-pushback-gate-tine-assembly levels relative to theunderlying hair-flow-channel guides and cross-sections of both scalphairs and hair extensions. The multiple-pushback gates have moved thehairs and hair extensions in their notches into the attachment area.)

FIG. 47: Step series 3 of attachment algorithm. (Left side view throughthe center of a representative hair-flow pathway. Same step as shown inFIG. 46 except from the side.)

FIG. 48: Step series 4 of attachment isolation algorithm (Top plan viewshowing hair channels at a point when the pincher is moving over theattachment area so as to close hairs and hair extensions together intoindividual attachment chambers.)

FIG. 49: Step series 4 of attachment algorithm. (Left side view throughthe center of a representative hair-flow pathway during the first halfof step series 4. The pincher has begun its journey but has notcompletely pulled the wayward hair extension tips together with theircorresponding scalp hairs.)

FIG. 50: Step series 4 of attachment algorithm. (Left side view throughthe center of a representative hair-flow pathway during the second halfof step series 4. The pincher has ended its journey and has completelypulled the wayward hair extension tips together with their correspondingscalp hairs.)

FIG. 51: Step series 5 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top plan viewshowing hair channels at a point after the polymer-adhesive nozzles haveeach shot a burst of liquid polymer adhesive onto the hair and hairextension in each attachment chamber.)

FIG. 52: Step series 5 of attachment algorithm (Left side view throughthe center of a representative hair-flow pathway showing the actions asshown in FIG. 51 from a different perspective.)

FIG. 53: Step series 6 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top plan viewshowing hair channels at a point at which the UV optical pathway is usedto solidify the liquid polymer beads on the hairs and hair extensionsbefore them.)

FIG. 54: Step series 7 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top plan viewshowing entrance gates being slid back over the channels to blockentrance in and out of the attachment area.)

FIG. 55: Step series 7 of attachment isolation algorithm (Top plan viewshowing the scalp-hair-multiple-pushback gate and pincher havingretracted out of the attachment area and thehair-extension-multiple-pushback gate functioning as a pushout actuatoras it pushes hairs out of the attachment area.)

FIG. 55.1: Step series 7 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top PlanView. Attached hairs and hair extensions after they have been pushed outof the attachment area. The pincher is shown retracted into its notch tothe right, but all other hair handlers are not illustrated for clarity.)

FIG. 56: Step series 7 of attachment algorithm illustrated from leftside view through the center of a representative hair-flow pathway.

FIG. 57: Step series 8 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top plan viewshowing hairs pushed completely out of the attachment area but still inthe notches of the hair-extension-multiple-pushback gate. At this time,the pushback gate begins to move towards the exiting hairs.)

FIG. 58: Step series 9 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top plan viewshowing the exiting hairs clear of the hair-extension-multiple-pushbackgate and surrounded by the pullback hook at the beginning of the exitchannel and heading towards its back.)

FIG. 59: Step series 9 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Top plan viewshowing the pullback, hook as it and the exiting hairs near the end ofthe exit channel.)

FIG. 60: Step series 9 of attachment isolation algorithm. (Left sideview through the center of a representative hair-flow pathwayillustrating the step shown by FIG. 59 from a different perspective. Itshows how the exiting hairs and hair extensions are pulled from thestraightener and hair-extension-holding clip respectively.)

FIG. 61: Illustration of how a scalp hair is pulled from thestraightener and a hair extension from its clip by the bend-under beltsystem. (Right side perspective view.)

FIG. 62: As in FIG. 61 but focusing more closely on how hairs and hairextensions exit the straightener and holding cartridges, respectively.(Right side perspective view.)

FIG. 63: The attachment stack as held by the belt buckle.(Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 63.1: The attachment stack as held by the belt buckle showing therelative position of the bend-under-belt assembly. (Left side view.)

FIG. 64: Segment of cable ribbon shown exploded. (Top-front-leftperspective view.)

FIG. 64.1: Segment of cable ribbon shown snapped together.(Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 65: Cable ribbon relative to the belt buckle and attachment stack.(Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 66: Fiber optic engagement with belt buckle and attachment stack.(Top-back-left perspective view.)

FIG. 67: Contact-card. (Right Side perspective view.)

FIG. 68: Contact card connected with attachment stack. (Top backperspective view.)

FIG. 69: Adhesive supply line connected with attachment stack. (Top backperspective view.)

FIG. 70: General form of bend-under belts shown in isolation.(Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 71: Belt-pulley ribs shown supporting trailing segment ofbend-under-belt assembly in isolation (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 71.1: Single belt-pulley rib in isolation. (Front view.)

FIG. 71.2: Single pulley-wheel in isolation (Front view.)

FIG. 71.3: Lower portion of pulley-rib in isolation. (Bottom perspectiveview.)

FIG. 71.4: Single belt-pulley rib with short segments of bend-underbelts running through it. (Front view.)

FIG. 72: Bend-under belt assembly's funneling front relative to itspulley ribs. (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 73: The various structures that connect to the attachment stackshown relative to each other with the attachment stack made invisible.(Top back perspective view.)

FIG. 74: Base unit that contains the support equipment for both theattacher and remover handle units that are connected to it.(Top-front-right perspective view.)

FIG. 75: Handle unit's outer frame. (Top-front-right perspective view)

FIG. 76: Belt buckle attached to handle unit. (Top-front-rightperspective view)

FIG. 77: Hair straightener in isolation. (Top-front-left perspectiveview.)

FIGS. 78-78.2: Straightener and attachment stack rotation relative toeach other over various surfaces. (Right side schematic view.)

FIG. 79: The attachment system handle unit held by human hand. (Leftside view.)

FIG. 79.1: The attachment system handle unit being run over the humanhead guided by the track cap. (Left side View.)

FIG. 80: The straightener shown in isolation running over the surface ofthe scalp. (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 80.1: Schematic depiction of straightener-tine movement relative toa scalp hair. It shows only one fragmentary vertical segment of astationary straightener tine and one fragmentary vertical segment.(Schematic front view from a slightly left perspective.)

FIG. 80.2: The straightener shown in isolation running over the surfaceof the scalp. (Top View.)

FIG. 81: The moving set of straightener tines shown in isolation. (Frontperspective view.)

FIG. 81.1: The moving set of straightener tines shown in isolation.(Back perspective view.)

FIG. 82: The static set of straightener tines shown in isolation. (Frontperspective view.)

FIG. 82.1: The static set of straightener tines shown in isolation.(Back perspective view.)

FIG. 83: Track cap shown in perspective mostly from the back.

FIG. 83.1: Track cap shown in perspective mostly from the front.

FIG. 84: The remover in isolation. (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 84.1: A single suction nozzle of the remover relative to abend-under-belt system in isolation. (Top-front-left perspective view.)

FIG. 85: Hair extensions being carried away by bend-under-belt systemwhere a single hair-channel guide is shown as a wireframe. (Left sideperspective.)

FIG. 86: Hair-extension-vacuum-belt-transfer unit. (Perspective View.)

FIG. 86.1: Internal levels with dead-end slits insidevacuum-belt-transfer unit. (Perspective View.)

FIG. 87: Hair-extension-vacuum-belt-transfer unit. (Perspective viewfrom right side.)

FIG. 88: Hair-extension-vacuum-belt-transfer unit. (Right side view.)

FIG. 89: Hair-extension-vacuum-belt-transfer unit. (Top view.)

FIG. 90: Hair-extension-vacuum-belt-transfer unit. (Perspective viewfrom left side.)

FIG. 91: Hair-extension-vacuum-belt-transfer unit. Illustrating hairextension being pulled from system by the secondary-transport belts.(Perspective view from left side.)

FIG. 92: Handle unit. being lowered onto dock. (Perspective view fromright side.)

FIG. 93: Canopy of handle unit triggered to slide open as handle unit islowered onto its dock. (Perspective view from right side.)

FIG. 94: Reversing clip filler turned in direction of docks.(Perspective.)

FIG. 95: Reversing clip filler turned in direction of hair extensiontransport belts. (Perspective view from right side.)

FIG. 95.1: Reversing clip filler turned in direction of hair extensiontransport belts. (Right side view.)

FIG. 96: Clip cartridge sitting atop a single cartridge dock inisolation. (Perspective view from right side.)

FIG. 97: A set of cartridge docks, most of which have their interiormechanisms exposed. (Perspective view from right side.)

FIG. 98: The reversing clip filler shown relative to a set of cartridgedocks. (Perspective view.)

FIG. 99: Hair extension introduction cartridge. (Front perspectiveview.)

FIG. 99.1: Hair-extension-introduction cartridge. (Top view.)

FIG. 100: Hair-extension-introduction cartridge relative to a set ofcartridge docks. (Perspective view.)

FIG. 101: Hair-extension-introduction cartridge shown relative to theclips of a single clip cartridge. The clip cartridge itself is notshown. (Front perspective view.)

FIGS. 102-102.1: Thermal bubble jet electrical circuit patterns. (Topview.)

FIG. 102.2: Thermal bubble jet electrical structures relative to thenozzle that they drive. (Top view.)

FIG. 102.3: Close up illustration of a vapor burst triggered by anelectrical-resistance-heating element at the tip of a bubble-jet nozzle(Top view.)

FIG. 103-103.1: Splitting-nozzle set shown in sequential views as aspitball-like glob of adhesive moves through it. (Top view.)

FIG. 103.2: System that supplies the spitball-like splitting nozzles.(Schematic side view.)

FIG. 104: Attachment-chamber nozzle stack. (Perspective view.)

FIGS. 105-105.2: Hair-extension-supply spool feeding a target area.(Schematic side view.)

FIG. 105.3: Recessed attachment areas in attachment stack tines beingfed by a hair-extension-supply spool. (Schematic illustrating top oftines but side of the supply spool.)

FIG. 106: Anchor-unified hair extensions.

FIG. 106.1: Pure-rail-interlock clip for holding anchor-unified hairextensions. (Front view.)

FIG. 106.2: Pure-rail-interlock clip for holding anchor-unified hairextensions. (Side view.)

FIG. 106.3: Pinch-and-slide-along-rail clip for holding anchor-unifiedhair extensions. (Front view.)

FIG. 106.4: Pinch-and-slide-along-rail clip for holding anchor-unifiedhair extensions. (Side view.)

FIG. 107: Overhanging structure to limit access to pincher notches. (TopView.)

FIG. 108: Transport-forward gate with regular-shaped notches. (TopView.)

FIG. 108.1: Transport-forward gate with sloped notches. (Top View.)

FIG. 109: Floor level of the hair-pathway-guide structure withtip-trench fronts that are sloped. (Top view.)

FIG. 109.1: A level of the hair-pathway-guide structure with tip-trenchfronts that are sloped. It represents a level higher in the stackingorder than the floor level illustrated by FIG. 109. (Top view.)

FIGS. 110-110.4: Various pincher shapes illustrated schematically fromthe side.

FIGS. 110.5-110.6: Various pincher shapes illustrated schematically fromthe top.

FIG. 111: Pushback gate, entrance gate, and holding gate shown relativeto two hair cross-sections in a metering area. (Top View.)

FIGS. 112-112.3: Flexible-finger-isolation-area obstruction means shownsequentially isolating a single hair. (Top View.)

FIGS. 113-113.2: Tapered-end spring fingers shown relative to three haircross-sections in a metering area sequentially isolating a single hair.(Top View)

FIGS. 114-114.4: Wedge-shaped isolation-area obstruction means shownsequentially isolating a single hair. (Top View.)

FIGS. 115-115.2: Sub-hair-diameter-INTERVAL-spaced-pushback-gate systemshown sequentially isolating a single hair. (Top view.)

FIG. 116: Entrance gate with sub-chambers forming a metering area. It isdesigned for use with thesub-hair-diameter-ACCURACY-spaced-pushback-gate system. (Top View.)

FIGS. 116.11-116.19: Sub-hair-diameter-ACCURACY-spaced-pushback-gatesystem shown sequentially isolating a single hair. (Top view)

FIG. 116.2: Accuracy-spaced type of pushback gate in isolation. (Topview.)

FIGS. 117-117.2: Tine flexibility joint. (Various top views.)

FIG. 118: Holding gate system shown relative to theflexible-finger-isolation-area-obstruction means. (Top View.)

FIG. 119: Transport-forward gates aligned with holding-area notchesformed between the holding gates. (Top View.)

FIG. 120: Movement and control of a typical sliding tine layerillustrated. (Top View)

FIG. 120.1: Movement and control of a typical sliding tine layerillustrated. Shows a more complex movement pattern than FIG. 120 madepossible in part by the more complicated shape of its movement-controlslot. (Top view.)

FIG. 120.2: Interface of actuation cables with a stack of sliding tinelayers. (Front view.)

FIG. 121: Schematic of the straightener's functional zones relative tothe attachment stack. (Side view.)

FIG. 122-122.2: Pushdown method of bend-under illustrated schematicallyin sequential views. (Side view.)

FIG. 123: Cross-sectional reshaping orifice in isolation with a hair atit its center. (Perspective view.)

FIG. 124: Cross-sectional reshaping orifice in isolation shown withridged edges for reinforcement and increased blade life. (Perspectiveview.)

FIG. 125: Cross-sectional reshaping orifice in isolation with a hair atit its center. (Side view.)

FIG. 126: Coating orifice shown in isolation surrounding a hair.(Perspective view.)

FIG. 127: Coating orifice plugged into fluid supply. (Side view.)

FIG. 128: Coating orifice with constant cross-section. (Side view.)

FIG. 129: Coating orifice with narrowed bottom. (Side view.)

FIG. 130 Coating orifice with narrowed top and bottom. (Side view.)

FIG. 131: Centering guides, reshaping orifices, and coating orificesprocessing a hair being longitudinally drawn through them. (Perspectiveview.)

FIG. 132: Single coating orifice level illustrating two coating orificescombined onto a single assembly. (Perspective view.)

FIG. 133: Several in-line coating-orifice assemblies attached byvertical supports. (Perspective view.)

FIG. 134: The vertically supported coating orifices of FIG.133 shownsupported by moving tine assemblies. (Perspective view.)

FIG. 135: Schematic movement of in-line orifice assemblies. (Top view.)

FIG. 136: Nested coating orifices. (Side view.)

FIG. 137: Coating orifices nested with razor-rimmed carving orifices.(Side view.)

FIG. 138: Hair centering-guide halves surrounding a hair. (Top view.)

FIG. 139: Hair centering-guide halves surrounding a hair. (Perspectiveview.)

FIG. 140: Hair centering-guide halves with projections on their bottomto control the maximum extent of their movement relative to each other.(Bottom view.)

FIG. 141: Tine-supported-orifice halves shown separated as when theirpinch is released. (Perspective view.)

FIGS.142-143: Processing stack elevated away from the scalp surface insequential views. This elevation allows for a non-creasing hair exitpath. (Right side view.)

FIG. 144: Convex spinneret cylinder. (Front view.)

FIG. 145: Concave spinneret cylinder. (Front view.)

FIG. 146: Convex and concave spinneret cylinders meshed together. (Frontview.)

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Since this invention is not a mere improvement over a similar prior artdevice but, rather, an entirely new device, I am not going to be ablereference a similar device and merely cite the improvements thatconstitute my invention. Instead, I am going to pick one embodiment ofit and recite. its physical structures in great detail. The embodiment Iwill pick to do this is used for the attachment of one or a very fewhair extensions to one or a very few hairs growing out of the scalp. Iwill now present an explanation of the physical structures of myinvention and how they are intended to interact with each other.

No doubt you've seen electric hair trimmers. You know the type thatbarbers buzz men's heads with to give them a crew cut. The attachmentdevice I will be describing to you is run through the hair in much thesame way that such an electric hair trimmer is. If you've ever looked atan electric hair trimmer, you may have noticed that the cutting bladesseem to be a hybrid between scissors and a comb. A comb because thecutting blades have a fork configuration and between each two fork tinesthere is an empty channel space where hairs can enter. Scissors becausethe cutting blades are composed of two sharp layers stacked on top ofeach other that oscillate relative to each other. These oscillationsnarrow the hair channels causing the hairs in them to be cut.

Just as an electric hair trimmer has comb-like channels through whichhairs can flow so too does my hair attacher. Just as an electric hairtrimmer has layers that oscillate relative to each other so too does byhair attacher. Of course, my hair attacher has many more oscillatinglayers than a hair trimmer does. In fact, this embodiment has abouttwenty layers stacked on top of each other. Each layer is slightlydifferent from the one below it. Some layers oscillate back and forthothers don't. But generally the layers are based around atined-comb-like design that has hair channels that allow hairs to flowthrough them.

The most complex and challenging part of my invention to understand isthis stack of about twenty layers. In general, I call this stack theprocessing circuit stack because it guides hairs through a planned pathduring the isolation and hair extension attachment processing. Dependingon the context I may also call it similar names like the attachmentcircuit stack, the attachment stack, the attacher stack, the attacher,and the processing stack. In the case of the first embodiment, I willdescribe a system whose goal is hair extension attachment; I will callthis stack the attachment circuit stack because it guides hairs througha planned path during the process of hair-extension attachment. Forshort, I may refer to it either as the attachment stack or attachmentcircuit.

To better understand the attachment circuit, I encourage you to think ofa conventional electric hair trimmer as I describe it to you. Rememberthat the attachment circuit is very analogous to the moving metalcutting-combs of an electric hair trimmer.

I will now begin describing each level of the attachment circuit of thefirst embodiment. The attachment circuit is composed of many, mostlikely metal, layers stacked on top of each other. Each layer has aslightly different purpose, and as such a slightly differentcross-sectional shape, from the layer below it. I will start describingthe lowest level of the attachment circuit and work my way up. In otherwords, if the attachment circuit stack were a building, I would start atthe ground floor and go up one floor at a time. After describing thelevels separately in their bottom-to-top stacking order, I willdescribe. schematically how these layers work together. In other words,I will tell you when and where these layers perform their functionsrelative one and other. However, that's something I am going to do muchlater. In the following explanation, each layer's function will bedescribed independently of the others. Don't worry if you. don't fullyappreciate the significance of an isolated layer during the followingexplanation. I'll explain how the layers function together later.

When imagining the attachment circuit moving over the scalp, assume thatthe hairs are standing straight up like a crop of corn facing anoncoming harvester. The device that causes these hairs to stand straightup will be discussed later.

Description of the Attachment Circuit Stack's Individual Parts

The Stationary Hair Channel Levels

Referring to FIG. 1, notice the lowest level of the attachment circuitstack, shown all by itself from an top perspective view. It primarilyhas two functions. One is to serve as a protective floor layer for thehigher levels in the stack. The other is to serve as a path throughwhich scalp hairs can move. Referring to FIG. 1.1, which is a plan topview with only the front portions enlarged, notice the funnelingtriangular tine fronts 1A at the front of this layer. They gather hairstogether in order to bring them to the area where they will be attached.Although the actual attachment process occurs at higher levels, itoccurs directly above the area 1F. How attachment occurs and where theloose hair extensions that are to be attached come from will bediscussed later. For now, just realize that once attached, each hair isforced to the right, along arrow 1B, such that it makes it past thecorner and then it moves backwards through the exit channel 1G, alongarrow 1C, towards the connectivity bridge 1D at the back of the exitchannel.

If this were an electric hair trimmer, the top of the hair would simplybe cut off and we wouldn't have to worry about how hairs get under theconnectivity bridge 1D at the back of the exit channel. I call 1D aconnectivity-bridge because it holds all the tines together. Since thisis not a hair trimmer, some attempt has to be made to bend the hair topsunder the connectivity-bridge at a rate fast enough to keep the exitchannel 1G from overfilling with hairs. If overfill was to occur, thehairs which started standing up relatively straight and perpendicular tothe scalp would be pushed flat and parallel to the scalp back throughtheir entire path, even in the attachment area 1F. The system would notfunction properly with hairs lying on their sides in such a manner.Thus, a bend-under connectivity-bridge system is used. It is the goal ofthis system to bend the tops of hairs under the connectivity-bridge 1Dat a faster rate than hairs can build up in front of the connectivitybridge in exit channel 1G.

Referring to FIG. 2, we see a perspective drawing of a bend-under beltsystem. Notice that a hair channel, which the hairs move through, isshown as a wire-frame. The portion 1G of the drawing is the exitchannel. The portion 1A is the funneling front-most portion of the hairchannel. Referring to FIG. 2.2, we see a perspective view of thebend-under belt system shown in isolation. Notice how it has a funnelshape 2F at its front that helps gather hairs into it. The trailingportion of is the trailing portion of the system that helps convey hairsfarther backwards.

In FIG. 2.1, is a different perspective view from the left side. Thelines 2C represent hairs growing out of the scalp 2D. The scalp standsstill below, but the system is moved through the hair. Thus, therelative movement of the hair itself is from the front to the back ofthe system in the direction of the arrow 2H, shown behind the rear endof the exit channel. Because the system doesn't cut the tops of thesehairs like a hair trimmer does, the hairs run into a dead end where theymeet up with the tine-connectivity bridge 1D. Left to their own, thehairs would start piling up in the exit channel 1G, until it would getso backed up with hairs that the hairs were forced to lie down flat,parallel to the scalp and likely pointing towards the funnelingfront-most portion 1A.

To overcome this, the bend-under belt system 2E in FIG. 2, is configuredas two belts which converge on each other and simultaneously help funnelhairs to their convergence 2F at which point they are pinched and pulledback by the belts. One belt is moving counter-clockwise, the oneclockwise; the net effect is linear motion applied to the hairs pinchedbetween the two belts in the direction of arrow 2H.

The belts bend the tops of the hairs under the connectivity bridge 1D,which forms a dead end in front of it. Since the hairs are attached tothe scalp, their bottoms can't move. Consequently, as the tops of thehairs are moved by the belts, they are increasingly pulled out of thebelts until finally the belts drop the hairs, as illustrated by seriesof hairs 2C shown in FIG. 2.1. Also, something to keep in mind is thatthe belts are running relatively fast in comparison to the speed thatthe attacher is being combed through the hair. As such, hairs don't geta chance to build up in the exit channel in front of its dead end.

FIG. 2.2 shows the bend-under belt assembly alone from a left sideperspective view. In FIGS. 2-2.2, I just showed two bend-under beltsfloating in space; later I'll describe how these belts are supportedrelative to each other. Although in these drawings the belt portions ofthe system wrap around the front funneling portion 2F, in practice, saidfunneling portion may have belts wrapped around it or not. If not, itwould just serve as a passive guide to funnel hairs to the moving beltportions behind it. Also note, in these drawings one bend-under-beltpair is shown per hair channel. In practice, several hair channels mightshare a single belt pair. This would mean that the hairs might be bentunder not the very back connectivity-bridge portion of the channel, butinstead, the lateral sides or tine portions.

Return you attention to FIG. 1, which is the lowest level in the system.Now that I've explained how hair flows through this level, I want todraw your attention to one more detail. Look at these four holes 1E. Abolt can be run through each and used to line this level up with thelevels above, which also have holes.

FIG. 3 is the next highest level. It is the second level in the stackand is the level of the liquid-polymer-nozzle walls. This polymer isused to form the plastic attachment beads that hold the hair extensionsto the scalp hairs. This level has channels 3A that the liquid polymerflows through to reach the nozzles 3B. Functionally, these channels 3Aare equivalent to pipes or syringe needles. Notice how they can share asingle fluid input line because a manifold 3G at the back of theattachment stack connects each individual tine branch.

In FIG. 4, an individual set of nozzles is shown from top frontperspective. Notice their position relative to the hair channel 4D, andthe. similarity between this drawing and FIG. 3. In FIG. 4, we are notso much concerned with the path the hairs take through the hair channel.Instead, notice the very ends of the polymer channels narrow to formnozzles 3B. Like a syringe needle, the liquid polymer can't escape fromthese nozzles unless it is put under a certain amount of pressure. Bydelivering this pressure in bursts, individual polymer droplets 4B canbe squeezed out that will fly towards each scalp hair-hair extensionpair 4A held before said nozzles so as to form a liquid bead around saidhair pairs. There are four total hairs shown in this drawing. There aretwo pairs 4A each with a single scalp hair and a single hair extension.

In FIG. 5 an individual set of nozzles is shown from a back perspectiveview, the two liquid plastic attachment beads 5A are shown after beingapplied to the hairs by the nozzles. Each bead is surrounding one scalphair and one hair extension. How these beads are hardened into solidplastic will be discussed later because this is the function of anotherlevel located directly above.

Now back to FIG. 3, recall that this is the second level in the stackingorder. Other than the nozzle portion, notice how this layer remainssimilar to level 1, as shown in FIG. 1. This is because the hair pathwaymust remain open at this cross-section also.

In FIG. 3, we see a second difference from level 1 is the additionalchannel 3C. Whereas, the scalp hair enters from the direction of arrow3D, loose hair extensions enter from the direction of arrow 3E. Theymeet in the middle, which is the attachment area 1F, shown hereencircled by an oval. This additional open area 3C, called the hairextension tip trench, helps form the pathway that the hair extensionsflow through. Level one, as shown in FIG. 1, is not open in thecorresponding area because it serves as a floor that protects the tipsof said loose hair extensions from rubbing against the scalp.

The third level is shown in FIG. 6 and is almost identical to level 1,as shown in FIG. 1. Whereas level one, serves as the floor of thechannel that supplies the nozzles with liquid adhesive polymer, levelthree in FIG. 6 serves as the ceiling to the polymer channel to preventleakage from the top of the channel. After all, a pipe must be closed onall sides to carry a liquid.

Another difference from level 1 is that this level has an opening 6Athat helps form a pathway for the hair extensions. Also, notice thesingle circular hole 6B at the very back of this layer. It serves as anopening for the fluid polymer input line to plug into the underlyingpolymer channels.

Once you understand how level two serves as a pipeline to carry liquidpolymer, then understanding level 4 in FIG. 7 is easy. It is merely apassageway to carry the ultraviolet light that will be used to solidifythe liquid polymer bead. Unlike a liquid that can be transported by anempty pipe, UV light must be carried on the inside of channels formedout of glass or another transparent material 7A. In other words, fiberoptics or specially shaped glass prisms that take advantage of theprincipal of total internal reflection.

FIG. 8 is a back perspective of such an optical system. Technically, thefork-like portion 8A is a solid prism of glass, not fiber optics.However, for flexibility, fiber optic cables 8C interface with the solidprism at this point 8B at the back. The flexible fiber optics is used asa “light-hose” that brings light from its source several feet away.

Return your attention to level four as shown in FIG. 7. This layer isused to hold in place these specially shaped glass light channels. Forsimplicity, the glass channels are depicted, as coming to nozzle-likepoints 7B. In actuality, the ends of these glass channels should bedesigned such that they best focus light on the polymer bead in front ofthem. Thus, the actual design of this light pathway will have to berefined by an optical engineer using computer software that predicts themovement of light through fiber optics and specially shaped glassprisms. The optical designer's goal will be to focus UV light on theattachment beads, which are in the attachment areas 1F.

Understand that the areas that surround this glass prism 7A are made ofmetal or whatever materials the levels of the attachment circuit stackare made. The glass prism 7A is most likely manufactured separately andthen placed in an empty pathway carved for it. That is carved into thesurrounding material of this level.

To review look at FIG. 9, the spherical objects 5A are the plasticattachment beads. They were sprayed out as a liquid by the nozzles 3B.Notice the end of the optical channel 7B where UV light is directed atthe liquid beads to harden them into solid plastic. We haven't discussedthis part 9C yet. This same part is shown in isolation in FIG. 10 andcalled the pincher.

FIG. 10 is the pincher. It moves to hold the hairs together up againstthe wall where the nozzles and UV outputs are. Whenever a part isreferred to as the pincher, it should be assumed to be this part, unlessthe context suggests otherwise. We'll discuss it more later. For now,notice how the pincher 9C, as shown in FIG. 9, surrounds the polymerbeads 5A during their application and hardening. By pressing the notchesof said pincher up against the channel wall, where the nozzles are,chambers which I will refer to as attachment chambers are formed.

FIG. 11 is level five. It serves as a protective top layer over theoptical channels of level 4. In other words, it sandwiches the glassprism of level 4 from the top.

FIG. 12 is level six and is the sensor layer. Electric currents or lightwill be run across gaps in the channels between two specific points oneach hair pathway. For example, electricity could be run between twoelectrical paths 12D and 12D′ to form an electrical circuit that bridgesgap 12A. If there is a scalp hair between these specific points, thenthe electric current or light will be disturbed in a different way thanif there is not. This will allow for the detection of when a scalp hairis going to be entering the attachment chambers. Remember that theattachment chambers are positioned in front of the nozzles at 12B. If ascalp hair is not going to be entering one of the attachment chambers,then, ideally, that attachment chamber's polymer nozzle should not befired. This will prevent the hair extensions released into theattachment chambers without matching scalp hairs to remain unused andunspoiled with adhesive polymer. However, this ideal scenario involvingindividual control of polymer nozzles may or may not be implemented inpractice.

If the sensor layer in FIG. 12 uses electricity, it should be coatedwith some kind of insulator such as Teflon such that it isn't shortedout by coming into direct contact with an adjacent metal layer. If ituses light, the optical pathways of this layer should be coated with amaterial less optically dense than themselves. The fragmentary rear ofthis sensor layer, shown enlarged from top perspective view in FIG.12.1, has contacts 12C that interface with either electric wires orfiber optic cables. These contacts should not be coated.

NOTE: The sensor currents could be run across the metering areas of achannel. If this is your first time reading this, you won't understandwhat the metering areas are yet. To understand the significance of themetering areas, you first have to understand the functions of the hairhandling tines which lie in higher levels and will be described andlater.

The next higher level is level seven and has the configuration as shownin FIG. 11. This level's primary job is to protect the plastic coatedsensor layer below it from the repeated rubbing of the hair handlingtines immediately above. Remember that we haven't discussed the hairhandling tines yet, but they're right above this layer moving back andforth, rubbing on it.

Also, since this is the non-moving level that directly underlies most ofthe moving hair handling tines, it can be thought of as working with thehair handling tines to help position the hairs while they're beingisolated and positioned in the attachment chambers.

The next highest levels (levels eight-fourteen) are where the movinghair handling tines reside. The hair handling tines are used inisolating out hairs and positioning them in place during attachment. Andonce attachment has occurred, the hair handling tines are used tofacilitate the attached hairs' exit. I call these moving layers the hairhandling tines because they handle hairs and have a fork-like shapecomposed of tines. For short, I call the hair handling tines the hairhandlers.

Schematic Pencils

Before we discuss the details of the hair handlers, notice thesequential series of drawings shown in FIGS. 14-14.2. In FIG. 14, we'vegot five horizontal pencils. These horizontal pencils are being pushedagainst a block by spring 14A. In FIG. 14.1, we see that a verticalpencil has been brought down into the horizontal pencils. Since there isonly a distance of about one pencil-width between the block 14B and thevertical pencil, only one horizontal pencil can fit between them. Theother four horizontal pencils are pushed backwards into the spring. 14A.In FIG. 14.2, we see the block 14B being lifted and allowing the onehorizontal pencil to escape. The remaining horizontal pencils aretrapped behind the vertical pencil. Consequently, one pencil has beenmetered out or isolated, and since the spring continues to push theremaining pencils forward, we can continue metering out pencils one at atime until no more pencils remain.

In the context of the present invention, the vertical pencil that comesdown and pushes the horizontal pencils back will be considered apushback gate. “Pushback” because it pushes backwards the pencils thatit doesn't meter out in front of itself. “Gate” because it controls theflow of pencils by getting in their way. The block 14B that keeps thefront-most horizontal pencil from moving away, in FIGS. 14 and 14.1,will be considered an entrance gate. “Entrance” because it controlswhether the pencils behind it are free to enter the next area alongtheir path. Pushback gates and entrance gates work together. In fact,the distance between a pushback gate and an entrance gate can be used tohelp determine how many pencils (or by analogy hairs) are metered out atone time. That area between a pushback gate and an entrance gate isconsidered the metering area. The metering areas are those areas withinwhich the hairs are isolated before being processed. Incidentally,recall that the sensors, in FIG. 12, that check for the presence ofhairs in the metering areas. Remember, how I said that you didn't reallyknow what a metering area is. Now you do. The area between a pushbackgate and entrance gate is the metering area that they check. Of course,in different embodiments, said sensor might check different points alongthe channel, even points along the bend-under system.

Obviously, I showed you the pencil metering diagram, in FIG. 14, becausemy device meters out individual hairs in much the same way that thesepencils are metered out. Of course, you may be wondering if hair is tooflexible to be metered out this way. The answer is that a hair that issix inches long behaves nothing like a pencil that is six inches long,such a length of hair would flip around uncontrollably. On the otherhand, a length of hair that's only one mm long, or less, behaves quiterigidly. Such a short piece of hair can be held in a tweezers and willpoint straight out not bending in the slightest.

The relevance of a one mm hair's rigidity is that my hair meteringdevice operates on hair cross-sections whose length is little more thanone mm, often much less. In other words, since the hair handling tinesare made of thin sheets of metal you can stack many layers of them inthe thickness of 1 mm.

It is true that these hairs I'm dealing with flip around considerablypast the small approximately 1 mm deep length of hair where metering andmanipulation is performed. However, in the following discussion of thehair handling tines, I want you to only concern yourself with anapproximately one mm long length of a hair that behaves much like arigid pencil.

Remember that hair-handling tines are so thin that although they are ondifferent levels, they can be thought of as being on exactly the samelevel. This is generally true except for level eight that hassignificant vertical depth. We will discuss that later. Even the verytop non-moving level (level seven as shown in FIG. 11) which some hairhandlers rub against can be thought of as being on exactly the samelevel as all of the hair handlers.

The previous pencil diagram illustrates the use of pushback gates in aconfiguration that forms one metering area and as such meters out onehair or one group of hairs at a time. Of course, since the head hasabout 100,000 hairs on it, it is to our advantage to meter out as manyhairs as we can at once. Understand that when I say meter out, thisimplies isolation of a certain number of hairs, ideally isolatedindividually. Certainly, if it's our ambition to deal with many hairs atonce, we can't settle for metering out large clumps of hair at a timeand then attaching hair extensions to these large clumps of hair. Such astrategy, although fast, would reduce the quality of the hairstylecreated. Instead, it is my goal to configure the system to have multiplemetering areas per channel. Each metering area is capable of isolatingone or a very few hairs in it. As such, I will present a system that hastwo metering areas per channel. However, in practice, the number ofmetering areas per channel could easily be increased beyond two.

The sequential views in FIGS. 15-15.2 show the pencil metering systemmodified such that there are, not one, but two metering areas. Ratherthan just having one vertical pencil descend as a pushback gate, we canuse several pencils. In this example, we use three vertical pencils.Notice how there are two metering areas 15A and 15B between these threevertical pencils.

You should understand that two of these three vertical pencils behaveboth as pushback and entrance gates. All three vertical pencils behaveas pushback gates because they are all capable of pushing behindthemselves the hairs that they do not meter out. However, the front twovertical pencils 15C and 15D also serve as entrance gates. This isbecause they get in front of the horizontal pencils that have beenmetered out and, in doing so, form the front gates of two meteringareas. This is what an entrance gate does. It prevents hairs fromentering the next area of the system until it lets them. However, thevery last of the three vertical pencils is a pure pushback gate. All thepencils behind it have been pushed back out of the way and into thespring 14A. However, none of the horizontal pencils behind it are inmetering areas, so it can't be considered an entrance gate.

Although these three vertical pencils act like both pushback gates andsometimes entrance gates, I will refer to such a configuration as amultiple pushback gate. Multiple because it is made up of severalpushback gates, not just a single pushback gate as shown in the firstpencil diagram FIG. 14.

Multiple pushback gates form notches that hold the isolated pencils.These holding notches allow the pushback gates to also serve astransport-forward gates. This is to say they move the pencils, or hairs,forward from their metering areas into the attachment area. This forwardmotion is depicted in the diagram by arrow 15F.

The Moving Hair Hander Tine-Assembly Levels

The levels I'm about to discuss are the moving hair handlers. Most ofthem slide from side to side others can also slide forward and backward.Regardless of the direction a hair handler moves, in this embodiment, itis moved by cables that are attached to it. For example, FIG. 16 islevel eight in the stacking order. It is the next higher level in thestack above the level seven, the highest non-moving level I showed you.In fact, level seven is shown shaded darkly below level eight in FIG.16. Level eight is only the lightly shaded layer on top. Level eight'sfront-most portion is capable of moving from side to side. Referring toFIG. 16.1 an enlarged perspective front view of only the front-mostportions of level eight, there are cables 16A and 16B attached to theconnectivity-bridge portion of the moving tine-assembly 16C of leveleight. The cable 16A on the left is capable of pulling it to the left,the cable 16B on the right to the right. In either case, it is only thevery front piece 16C that is capable of moving. This rear area 16D ispart of level eight but doesn't move. Its only purpose is to remainsandwiched between other levels so as to support the stack. Just as itis the purpose of the second floor of a building to be sandwichedbetween the first and third. This is true of all the moving hair handlerlevels. Generally, it is only their front most portions that are moved.

In this embodiment, most of the hair-handling tines are thin layers ofsheet metal. Level eight, as shown in FIG. 16, is the exception. Whereasmost of its surface is just a thin sheet of metal, at its tine tips 9C,it thickens such that it can extend down vertically into the attachmentareas of the layers below. Level eight's main purpose is to hold scalphairs and hair extensions in position while they are being attachedtogether. It does this by moving sideways from right to left. It endsits journey pressed up against left wall 16F of the attachment area. Itholds scalp hairs and hair extensions together against this left wall.

Remember that this left wall is where the attachment nozzles and UVlight outputs are located. By pinching scalp hairs and hair extensionsbetween this left wall and itself, level eight holds hairs in positionduring hair extension attachment.

In FIG. 17, we see a more detailed look at the shape of the pincher'snotches. Notice how there are two notches 17A. Each notch can form anattachment chamber where one scalp hair and one or more hair extensionscan be isolated together. When pinched up against the left wall, thesechambers are closed on all four vertical sides such that the hairscannot escape. In this embodiment, each notch or hair holding chamberhas its own corresponding nozzle on the left wall. In FIG. 17, there aretwo notched hair-holding chambers that correspond to the two nozzlesthat I showed you earlier. Thus, in this system, each channel has twoisolated attachment chambers and will apply two attachment beads perchannel at a time.

Notice the notches are somewhat hollowed out in the middle such that thehairs are grasped at the bottom and top but are not touched by thepincher in the middle. Notice how this allows the liquid polymerattachment beads 17B to remain untouched by the pincher.

Another thing to notice about the pincher tips 9C, as shown in FIG.16.1, is that they project to the left more at the top than at thebottom. This is because its top is in closer contact with the other hairhandling tines above it. When these other hair handling tines hand hairsoff to the pinchers, we can depend on the hair cross-sections beingright between the middle of the notches at the very top of the pinchersbecause that is where the other hair handlers, directly above, havepositioned the hairs. And hairs behave rigidly over short lengths.However, the lower portions of the hairs that extend down near thebottom of the attachment chamber are more likely to flip around and notbe exactly where we want them. Thus, the sloped overhang of the pincher,as shown enlarged by FIG. 16.2, functions such that the tops of thehairs get pinched the very first and lower points on the hairs getpinched progressively later such that the last point of a hair to getpinched is the lowest point to get pinched.

FIGS. 18-18.2 show a more detailed representation of the pinching actionshown sequentially. These drawings show the pinchers 18A and the leftwall 18B getting closer to each other in three progressive steps. Onlyone isolation notch of the pincher is shown. In practice, the pincherlikely has multiple such isolation notches. The pincher is shown inshaded on the right; the wall is shown as a wire-frame on the left.Remember that this wall is where the polymer nozzles and UV outputs lie.

The most important thing to notice about this drawing is that the topsof both the pincher and its corresponding position on the wall slantforward. This causes the higher portions of hairs to get pinched firstand the lower portions last. This scheme allows for the wayward scalphair and hair extension tips to be progressively pushed into the centerof attachment chamber from top down. One scalp hair and one hairextension is shown in each step. Please note this means one scalp hairwould be attached to the scalp, and thus, it wouldn't truly have a loosetip as shown in this diagram, only each hair extension would. Thisdrawing shows two loose tips to emphasize convergence of the hair andhair extension.

In FIG. 19 we see level nine which serves to narrow the entrance 19Awhich allows scalp hairs into the attachment area. Level nine is thelighter shaded area, representing a moving tine-assembly. In thebackground, you can see those underlying layers that make up the hairpassageways. Level #9 works with the walls of the underlying passageway19B as if they were all one layer.

From this top plan view, we can see how this level works with theunderlying channel. This tine-assembly layer would normally start outnot overlapping the hair passageways at all. This allows more thanenough width for more than one scalp hair to fit across each passageway.Of course, we only want to allow one scalp hair into each metering area19A at a time. So the purpose of this narrowing layer is to be moved out(here from left to right) over the passageway narrowing it such thatonly one hair can fit across its width.

If you'll remember the pencil diagrams, showing pencils being meteredout, you'll recall there was one straight line of pencils. If thepencils, instead, bad been stacked several layers deep, then more thanone pencil per metering area would have been metered out. Since we onlywant to meter out one hair per metering area, it is important to narrowthe hair pathway to one hair width.

Now you may ask, “If a narrowed pathway is what you want, why don't youjust make the underlying pathway permanently narrowed so you don't needthis moving part?” The reason I'm not doing that is because permanentlynarrowing the pathway to just one hair width is really asking for hairsto get jammed. By allowing the pathway to be narrowed only temporarily,we should be able to prevent hair jamming.

Also, notice that the very end 19C of this narrower actually overhangsthe hair channels so much that it doesn't just narrow the hair channelsbut it actually closes them off. This is because this portion 19C of thenarrower serves as an entrance gate to the attachment area so thatunmetered hairs don't enter prematurely. I will call this type of hairhandler a channel narrowing entrance gate because it both narrows thehair channel and controls entrance into the attachment area. In theory,we could put these functions in two separate tine-assemblies of hairhandlers; here I've put them in one. Finally, notice that only the frontof this level is shown. This level is really much longer in back, andhas holes through it like the previous layers shown. Many of thefollowing layers will be shown truncated in the same manner. Note: Inpencil diagram, FIG. 14, the block 14B served as an entrance gate thatprevented pencils from escaping prematurely before they were meteredout. This is what I mean by “entrance gate.”

FIG. 20 shows the next higher level, level ten. This level serves tonarrow the entrance that allows loose hair extensions into theattachment area. If you understand what I just said about narrowing thescalp hair entrance, then you already know how this level works. It'sthe same thing except it's for narrowing the entrance passageway ofloose hair extensions instead of scalp hairs. Like the on one scalp hairside, this level is a combination channel narrower and entrance gate inone.

FIG. 21 shows the next higher level, level eleven. It is the scalp hairmultiple-pushback gate. It meters out scalp hairs putting one scalp hairinto each of its two metering areas 21A, when it slides from right toleft. Of course, remember that a multiple pushback gate can have morethan just two metering areas. It's important to understand that thesepushback gates work with the layers above and below them. For example,the scalp hair narrower in FIG. 19 (which is level nine) has alreadynarrowed the hair pathway to one hair-width. Next, the multiple pushbackgates of this level intersect with the resulting narrowed line of hairs.

You should keep in mind that FIG. 21 shows multiple pushback gates muchlarger than actual size. To get an idea of actual size, consider thateach of the notches 21A is only wide enough to hold about one hair. Inother words, the width of these metering notches is little more than onehair.

Although this part has been named a pushback gate, it also serves otherfunctions. I've already mentioned how each pushback gate of a multiplepushback gate can also be considered an entrance gate. Butmultiple-pushback gates can have still yet other functions. Once theirmetering areas are filled with hairs, the multi-pushback gate can bemoved, in the direction of arrow 21B, straight ahead into the attachmentarea 21C carrying the hairs it has metered out with it. This function ofa multi-pushback gate should be considered its hair-transport function.

Notice that this level has more than just two cables attached to it. Ithas two that pull it side to side 21D and 21E, and it has two that pullit forwards and backwards 21F and 21G.

In FIG. 22, the topmost lighter shaded level is the next higher level,level twelve. It is the channel-blocking slide out preventer. It's shownsuperimposed on top of level eleven, the scalp side multi-pushback gatesshown in darker shading and which we just talked about. I just mentionedhow the multi-pushback gates can be slid straight ahead of themselves totransport the hairs in their metering areas. However, since left tothemselves, multiple pushback gates are open on one side, they might beat risk of loosing their metered hairs out of this open side unlesssomething prevents this. That is the purpose of this level. It restrainsside to side movement of the hairs in the pushback gates as they'recarried forward. By doing this, hairs are at less risk of sliding out oftheir metering notches during transport. I'll explain this part morelater, for now, just understand it keeps hairs in the metering notches,of the pushback gates, while those metering notches are on the move. Itspath of motions is to slide only in a forward and backward direction.

In FIG. 23 is the next higher level, level thirteen. This is the hairextension multiple-pushback gate. It meters out hair extensions the sameway the scalp hair multiple-pushback gate meters out scalp hairs. It toois analogous to the pencilmetering diagram. A difference is that thehair extensions it deals with come through the hair extension tiptrench, in the direction of arrow 23A, while the scalp hairs dealt withby the other pushback gate come from the opposite direction. Recall thatthe scalp side pushback gate was placed farther forward and on theopposite side of the hair pathway.

In FIG. 24 is shown the next higher level, level fourteen. This is thepullback hook level. After the attached hairs have been pushed to theright and out of the attachment chamber, they still must travel backthrough the exit channel area before being engaged by the bend-underbelts near the back of the channel. After scalp hairs and hairextensions have been attached together in attachment area 24A, they areejected to the right and move back into and through the exit channelalong arrow 24B.

To a certain extent, just the moving of the system over the scalp willcause these hairs to travel to the back of the exit channel. However, inthis embodiment, we must be absolutely certain that exiting hairs underno circumstances can backtrack and return to attachment area 24A.Further still, we want attached hairs to reach the bend-under system assoon as possible. This way their most extensive tips are pulled clear ofthe attachment circuit as soon as possible so as to free up room formore hairs to enter the attachment system. That is what this level'sresponsibility is. It moves backwards along arrow 24C in order to pullhairs back with it.

FIG. 25 shows a side perspective of the pullback hook in action. Thislevel is comprised of a hook that pulls everything in the exit channelto its very back where it can be engaged by a bend-under belt. This hookmoves backwards, in the direction of arrow 24C, at the end of everyattachment cycle carrying exiting hairs with it. This hook is thehighest moving hair handler in this embodiment. Note: Of course, to doits job a functional equivalent of the pullback hook could be used. Forexample, the hook doesn't have to be closed on the left side because theunderlying exit channel would prevent hairs from slipping out of it fromthe side anyway.

The Spring-Pin Levels:

The next five highest levels fifteen through nineteen, shown FIGS.26-30, should be considered together as a single group. This group oflevels has two general purposes. First, the back of this set of levelscontains spring-loaded pins whose duty it is to engage the hair clips,which hold the hair extensions. These spring-loaded pins push theseclips forward towards the attachment area.

Look at FIGS. 26-30. Notice how each of these levels is almost identicalto the others except that we see different cross-sections, such as 27H,of the darkly shaded part as shown in FIG. 27. The cross-sections makeup a part called a spring-pin assembly, which is on the inside of thesetop five levels.

Referring to FIG. 26, note that the central front funneling tines 26A ofthese levels are shown as unattached and floating in space. In practice,at least one of these levels would have connectivity bridges holdingthese regions together as shown by the second layer 34E from perspectivetop view in FIG. 34. As such, most of the central front funneling tinesin these layers would not have connectivity bridges of their own butwould be connected vertically to a layer that does. The reason for thisis to prevent the hair extensions from having to bend over aconnectivity bridge at a point too close to their holding clips (to bediscussed later), because their bend angle might be too sharp.

If we were to take the spring pins out of the stacked layers whichsupport and hold them, said spring-pin assemblies would look as they doFIG. 31. Notice the springs 31A at the back of each of the four shownspring-pin assemblies, they push each pin forward. Notice how the shapeof the spring pins corresponds with darkly shaded cross-sections shownin FIGS. 26-30.

Cartridge & Clip Alone

Referring to FIG. 32, the hair-extension-holding clips 32A are heldtogether in clip-holding cartridges like 32B. Each cartridge has as manyclips as the attacher has channels. Each clip should have a spring-likeresilience that allows it to hold hairs in its interior by pinchingthem. This same assembly turned upside down is shown in FIG. 32.1,notice that the clip-holding cartridge has open slots 32C on its bottom.(The corresponding slots on the top of the cartridge are open in thesame manner.) Referring to FIG. 32.2, notice that each clip has a wideinterior 32D in the front that narrows to a dead end 32E and thenspreads back apart again towards the rear 32F. This dead end can beachieved by simply thickening the interior edges of the clips towardseach other or by placing a flexible webbing means there. This dead end,or the flexible webbing composing it, will usually have a funnel shapeor V-shape so that the very last hairs to be used lie directly in thecenter of the clip and straight in front of the straightening peg (to bedescribed later). The reason a dead end is helpful is so that the backportions of the clip can help provide spring force. By doing so, therearmost hairs in the clip will not be held much tighter than the frontmost hairs in it.

Cartridge & Pins

In FIG. 33, each slot 33C, and its corresponding slot on the bottom ofthe clip-holding cartridge 32B, is wide enough to allow the verticalportion, or clip-engagement pin 33A, of a spring-pin in FIG. 33.1 tostick up through it and mate with the spring-pin-receiving hole 33B ofits corresponding clip inside said cartridge. In FIG. 33.1, the isolatedspring-pin and clip off to the side shows how the spring pins and clipsmate inside the cartridge. This is to say that the pin 33A is designedto stick though a hole 33B in the hair extension holding clips. Thus,pin 33A is a clip-engagement pin. This is to say that the pin 33A yousee sticking up from the top of the attachment stack in FIG. 34 isdesigned to stick though a hole in the hair extension holding clips.Thus, pin portion 33A is itself a clip-engagement pin.

Simplified Aggregate Stack

Also in FIG. 34, notice the rectangular tabs 34B that extend up at thevery back. These tabs are part of the spring-pins and can be used topull them backwards. Remember that since these pins are spring-loaded,left to their own, they will move forward. These tabs are used to pullthe spring-pins back to a standard contracted position. This standardcontracted position, where all pins are pulled to the very back, makesloading and unloading clip cartridges possible. This is because all ofthe spring-pins are lined up exactly with each other, at the very backof their slots.

Note: To save space, the rear slots 34C, the ones the rectangular tabsmove in, have been scaled much shorter than they likely would be.Really, their length would more likely be equal to the forward slots 34Din front of them, the ones the round clip-engagement pins 33A move in,because these tabs are connected to and must move the same distance asthe clip-engagement pins do.

Cartridge with Rubber Band

As stated before, the spring-pin receiving holes 33B of the clips, as inFIG. 33.1, should be lined up with each other before their cartridge isloaded or unloaded atop of the attachment stack. To see how this can bedone, refer to FIG. 35. The clip-receiving holes of the clips are linedup by rubber band 35A that encircles the cartridge and pushes all of itsclips backwards, as far as they will go. Notice how said rubber bandsurrounds the cartridge and fits into a groove. Notice the rubber bandfits into hooks 35B on the clips that it pulls backwards. Thus, theclips are pulled back as far as they will go so that they are lined upwith each other, and the same can be said of the spring-pins, in theattachment stack (achieved by a mechanism described later).Consequently, the pin-receiving holes of the clips and thespring-pin-clip-engagement pins match up perfectly. This makes takingone cartridge off the clip-engagement pins and putting another on easy.Please note the springs of the spring pins will be strong enough toovercome the rubber band and push their clips forward despite it.

Clip & Peg

I told you that levels fifteen through nineteen, shown in FIGS. 26-30,have two purposes. I have explained the first purpose, refer to FIG. 36to see the second and FIG. 36.1 to see an enlarged front of this level.This second purpose is that the fronts of these levels contain funnelingchannels 36A that serve to stabilize the hair extension tips 36B hangingdown from the clips. This way the hairs hang in thin lines waiting toget into the attachment area 36C. Without these funneling channels,these hair extension tips might flip around from side to side. Perhaps,this side to side movement would lead to hair extension tips hoping fromchannel to channel or worse yet bunching up before entering theattachment area. I call the funneling area 36A the hair extensionhopper. It is part of the hair-extension-tip trench and guides andfunnels the hair extension tips into narrowed portions of said trench.Each clip may have a straightening peg 36D behind it that extendsvertically through its channel. Notice that the straightening peg 36D isjust slightly thinner than the most narrow portion 36E of the funnelinghair channels of hair extension tip trench.

Paintbrush Obstacle

Scenario 1:

To get a better intuitive understanding of what this straightening pegdoes, imagine guiding the bristles 37A, in FIG. 37, of a paintbrush downa trench only slightly wider than the brush. You should imagine thistrench as having two vertical walls 37D and 37E. If you hold only thehandle of the paintbrush, then should the bristles encounter an obstacle37B in this trench, its bristles will bend backwards when you applyenough forward pressure.

Scenario 2:

In the second scenario shown by FIG. 37.1, imagine the same situationexcept that you put your finger 37C down into the trench behind thebristles of the brush. In this case, you can press the bristles with allof your strength into the obstacle and they will not bend. Thestraightening peg serves the same purpose as your finger.

FIG. 38 illustrates what might happen to the hair extension tips 38A ifthere were no straightening peg. Notice how the tips curve excessivelybackward. The purpose of the straightening peg is to prevent this. Ifthe tips were allowed to curve excessively backward, the clip 38B mightadvance forward without moving the hair extension tips forward with it.

Clip & Peg

Referring once again to FIG. 36.1, the clip is shown with itsstraightening peg 36D. Since the tips are kept relatively straight, thehair extension tips can be pushed forward with greater spring force thanthey could be otherwise.

Spring Pin Isolated

As you can see from FIG. 31, the straightening peg 28A is part of thespringpin system. An alternative approach would be to attach astraightening peg to each clip rather than making it part of the springpin. Of course, such an approach would be at a disadvantage because eachclip would be more complex and difficult to manufacture. And since thereare more clips, because they are removable, than there are spring-pinsit is best to attach the straightening peg to each spring-pin, not toeach clip.

It may be undesirable to extend the straightening pegs down below levelfifteen as shown by FIG. 26, because if they were any lower, they couldcome in contact with the fragile hair handling tines. In fact, in theprevious drawings (FIGS. 26-30), the straightening peg doesn't extendbelow level sixteen as shown by FIG. 27. In these drawings, portions ofstraightening pegs are shown as short segments. In particular, noticethe short straightening-peg segments as illustrated by 28A in FIG. 28.Just as FIG. 26 is the layer below FIG. 27, FIG. 28-30 representincreasingly higher adjacent levels. Notice how the peg segment 28A inFIG. 28 also extends up through the higher levels as shown by FIGS. 29 &30.

Of course, it is desirable for the spring-loaded clips to advance thehair tips towards the attachment area but they must not advance fasterthan the hair extensions in them are used. Referring to FIG. 27.1, thechannel obstruction 27A helps keep the hair extension clips fromadvancing faster than the hair extensions in them are used. It does thisbecause the hair extensions hanging down from the clips are forced upagainst it. This design only allows the spring-loaded clips to advancewhen the front-most hairs in them are attached and pulled from the clipby the bend-under system.

A second purpose served by said channel obstruction is to prevent scalphairs from advancing to the point where they actually start pushing thecartridge clips backwards away from the attachment area. Remember thatthe scalp hairs are coming from the direction of arrow 27B.

As shown in FIGS. 27 and 27.1, in this particular embodiment, saidchannel obstruction is only placed on level sixteen. It is not placed onthe levels above it because this wouldn't give exiting hair extensionsan area to overhang the channel obstruction without holding thecartridge back. It is not placed under this level because directlybeneath is the attachment area, and the hairs must have enough clearanceabove them to bend under channel obstruction 27A in order to enter theattachment area. You might not completely understand these two concernsnow but it will become apparent when I explain exactly how hairs flowthrough the system. The actual placement height and thickness of thechannel obstruction 27A is something that must be calibrated empiricallyduring prototyping. In other words, when I refer to only placing it onlevel sixteen that is something specific only to this set of drawings.This is not to say that couldn't be placed on more than one level or adifferent level number so long as the above concerns are taken intoaccount.

To Review

Simplified Aggregate Stack

FIG. 34 is a diagram of the attachment stack. It's simplified in that itdoesn't contain every level that the attachment stack would have inpractice. Instead, to keep things simple, it only shows severalrepresentative levels. The following are some overall points about thesystem:

I. The Attachment Stack is Likely Made of Sheets of Metal:

A. Most of the levels that I have described are very thin pieces ofsheet metal. Some of them have a thickness similar to that of a piece ofpaper. Of course, since they're composed of metal, they're much strongerand more rigid than paper. The sliding hair handlers are especiallythin, except for level eight that has tips that extend verticallydownward into the attachment area. The sheets of metal can be shapedinto the cross-sections I've described above using various methods:

1. Photochemical etching—A technology similar to that used in makingmicrochips, only neither as expensive nor accurate. Photo etchinginvolves coating a sheet of metal with a substance that hardens onexposure to light. A pattern is optically projected on the surface, andthe surface is developed. Those areas on the surface that were exposedto light remain protected after developing. Those areas of the surfacethat weren't exposed to light have only bare metal that is susceptibleto chemical etching. Thus, shapes can be etched into the metal sheet byexposing it to an acid. Photochemical etching will provide sufficientaccuracy to fabricate most of the layers of this invention.

2. Photo-resist electro-forming- A highly accurate additive fabricationmethod that depends on depositing an electrolyte on an electricallycharged pattern. It can form sheets of metal with features havingtolerances of one micron or tighter. This level of accuracy will not beneeded for most cross-sections of this invention. Thus, its addedexpense over photochemical etching is unjustified for most levels ofthis machine. However, there maybe a limited number of levels that couldbenefit from the accuracy of electro-forming.

3. Laser cutting—A laser beam can be used to cut metal precisely andaccurately. However, laser cutting is generally too slow to use to cuteach level from a blank piece of sheet metal for production purposes.Rather, laser cutting should be used to cut tabs off parts produced byphotochemical etching or electro-forming.

4. Molding—Some parts like the glass optical prism fork shown in levelfour, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, might be manufactured by molding.

5. Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD)—LCVD is an emerging technologythat promises to allow small parts to be formed directly from the vaporphase by using a laser beam. It promises to be highly accurate but isnot commercially available yet. In vapor phase deposition, a certaincross-sectional shape is projected using high-energy light or electronbeams. In the future, it might prove to be an effective means forproducing the stack levels. This technology is known to produceextremely pure and extremely strong materials.

6. Any other analogous technology can be used to manufacture thisinvention. The above five examples are only possibilities.

II. Holding the Levels of the Stack Together:

The above methods describe ways of forming patterns for individualcross-sectional layers. However, these individual layers must somehow beattached. There are several ways that this can be done, including butnot limited to:

A. Bonding with adhesives—This method would use a thin film of adhesiveapplied between the surfaces of the various levels of the stack.Although a relatively easy method, adhesives are probably not reliableenough for this application. For example, the polymer adhesive thissystem uses to attach hairs together might itself degrade the adhesive.

B. Welding—Welding would most likely be done with laser beams. Forexample, two or more thin layers of metal can be welded together byhitting the surface of one of them with a laser beam. This is probablythe most reliable way attaching various levels of the stack to eachother. It allows for a durable hermetic seal, which is especially usefulfor forming channels that carry liquid.

C. Bolting—Otherwise loose layers can have holes that run through themthat allow them to be held together by bolts. Realistically, bolts wouldprobably used in combination with a means such as welding. The boltscould be slide through holes 1E in FIG. 1 and homologous holes throughother parallel levels.

The hair handlers that need to slide relative to each other will beattached by running a rod through them. However, this rod and hairhandler assembly will not prevent the layer from sliding relative toeach other.

Referring to FIG. 39, the bolts 39N used to hold the layers together mayhave elongated heads that can be slid through holes in the clipcartridges 32B. This will help position the removable clip cartridgesatop the attachment circuit stack. Of course, these elongated clipcartridge engagement rods 39N don't have to be bolts running through theentire stack, instead, they could just be attached near the surface.

III. Attaching Peripheral Components to the Attachment Stack:

The functions of the attachment stack are aided by various externalcomponents attached to it. The following is a recitation of how some ofthese peripheral components attach:

Referring to FIG. 39 we see a perspective front view of an abbreviatedhair extension attachment stack, the hair extension clips 39C are heldby the clip cartridge 32B. The hair extension clips 39C extend from thecartridge and allow the tips hair extensions (not shown) which they holdto extend below, perhaps in dangling manner.

The funneling areas 36A, in FIG. 36.1 guide these hair extension tips inindividual channels. I call the areas of these layers that guide andfunnel hair extensions the hair extension hoppers. In FIG. 39 and FIG.39.1, the hair hopper levels are represented in abbreviated form by thetop two stacked levels 39A and 39D.

In FIG. 39, the cables 39E slide the hair handlers sideways and forwardand backward. They lead off to devices that pull on them causing them tomove. (I'll say more about this later.) Of course, the hair handlers areat the same levels as their cables. In this embodiment, the layers wherethe moving hair handlers are need not have funneling fronts, so there isnothing but air space at the fronts of their layers. The moving hairhandlers are important because they move hairs around and put them wherewe want them.

In FIG. 39 and FIG. 39.1, below the hair handlers are the lowerstationary hair channel levels where the nozzles reside, represented inabbreviated form by the two lowest stacked levels 39F. It is in theselower levels where the polymer adhesive is applied to the hairs.

In FIG. 39.1 we see a perspective back view of the attachment stack,notice the spring-pin-pullback cable lasso 39G around the rectangularspring-pin tabs. This configuration makes it possible to pull all thespring pins to the back of the cartridge, thereby, pulling all the hairextension holding clips to the back of the cartridge in line with eachother. Referring to rearview in FIG. 39.1, hair extension holding clips39C are pulled to the very back of their cartridge and lined up witheach other. This is achieved simply by pulling the lasso-shaped cable39G backwards. In FIG. 39, the lasso pulls the spring-pin tabs 34B thatit surrounds backwards. Simultaneously, this causes the hair extensionclips to be pulled backwards. Ideally, this lasso cable leads to anactuator, such as a solenoid, that pulls it backwards when the system'scomputer tells it to.

In FIG. 39.1, notice that the sensor circuits extend to the very backwhere their contacts are exposed on surface 39H. This is where theelectric wires or fiber optic cables come in contact with the sensorcircuits.

A liquid adhesive is used to attach the hairs together. The back oflevel three (in unabbreviated version but the lowest level in FIG.39.1), shown as surface 39L, is where the liquid adhesive is introducedinto the attachment stack. The outline of the manifold pathways 3G canbe seen in FIG. 39.1. Really, the liquid adhesive manifold would beconcealed under level three in the unabbreviated version, and only asingle adhesive input hole would be seen. A hose 39I carrying the liquidpolymer adhesive will be attached to this single hole in level three(unabbreviated version) The liquid adhesive will then be carriedsideways and then forward to the attachment nozzles by the manifoldpathways 3G, which really are formed into level two (unabbreviatedversion).

Actuator Cable Interface with Hair Handlers:

Referring to FIG. 40, the sliding hair handlers are attached to actuatordriven cables 40A and 40B. Remember that the hair handlers are thinsheets of metal. An actuator is any device that moves something back andforth. A solenoid is one type of actuator.

Before, I describe how actuator driven cables such as 40A and 40B, inFIG. 40, move only the front portion of a level. The front portion, ofcourse, being a hair handler tine-assembly. The issue we will concernourselves with now is how these cables are attached to the levels thatthey move without interfering with other levels. For example, how thecable attached to one hair handler tine-assembly sheet 40C stays out ofthe way of the levels above and below it, such as hair handlertine-assembly 40D below. Since it is expected that these actuator drivencables will be attached to the top (or bottom) of a sliding hair handlertine-assembly, the areas of cable attachment like 40E will as such bethicker than the rest of the layer to which it is attached. As such, acable clearance notch 40F has to be cut in the overlying hair handlerassembly 40C above the point of cable attachment 40E. This is to allowthe cable to fit between the two sheets of metal, which compose the hairhandler tine-assemblies 40C and 40D, while at the same time allowingthese two sheets of metal to lie surface to surface.

These cable clearance notches 40F will have to be wide enough to allowadequate clearance margins 40G around the cables as they and the sheetsof metal they're attached to move around. Remember that these slidinghair handlers not only might move side to side, but some of them alsocan move forward and backward. As such, the cable clearance notches mustbe adequately large in order to leave margins like 40G for movement inseveral directions between cable attachments like 40E and edges ofclearance notches like 40F.

The spacing scheme shown here assumes that the thickness available incable attachment area 40E will be no greater than the thickness of onetine-assembly level. In other words, we are assuming that the attachedcable 40A is no thicker than the sheet metal of which the sliding hairhandler tine-assemblies are made. Thus, cable clearance notches can bejust one sheet tine-assembly thick. This allows for the cableattachments and cable clearance notches to be alternated between twopositions, per hair handler tine-assembly side. For example, the leftside of these hair handlers will have cable 40A with notch 40F above itand a second cable 40H attached to tine-assembly 40C at a secondcable-attachment position 40J. Of course, if there had been a third hairhandler tine-assembly stacked above level 40C, it would have had to havea cable clearance notch over position 40J. This would allow all cableattachments on this side to be alternated between just twocable-clearance-notch positions.

However, if the cable attachments were thicker than one layer of sheetmetal, then the clearance notches would have to be made thicker. Inother words, they would be made through several layers of sheet metalabove them to allow for the clearance of just one attached cable. Shouldthis become necessary, cable attachments would have to be alternatedbetween more than two positions per cable-attachment side.

Alternatively, using cable/hair handler interface sheets would allowthicker cables to be used while still alternating attachment notchesbetween just two positions. In such a configuration, the thicksolenoid-driven cables are not attached directly to the sheet metal ofthe hair handlers, but instead, are attached to thin flexible sheets.These thin sheets then go on to attach to the sheet metal of the hairhandlers. Since these interface sheets are no thicker than one sheet ofthe hair handlers, their clearance notches can be alternated betweenjust two positions, even though the solenoid-driven cables themselvesmay be much thicker than just one hair-handler-tine-assembly level.Please note the cable attachment points. could be placed anywhere on ahair-handler tine-assembly, including direct attachment to the tines orback of the assembly.

The distances the hair handlers slide must be controlled veryaccurately. Because we are dealing with such small distances, thesolenoid-driven cables themselves are not likely to be accurate enough.In order to achieve accuracy in movement, a movement control rod 39Jwill be used. Movement control rods not only keep the sliding layers inplace but, also, control their path and distance of movement. Forexample, tine-assembly 40D represents level eight, which is the pincherthat moves form side to side pressing hairs between its notches upagainst the left wall. By pressing up against the edges of this slot40K, the control rod 39J controls how far the tine-assembly moves fromside to side. There are some parts that move not only in two directions,but four. Their control rods and slot sides control the paths of theirmovements in a similar fashion.

In FIG. 39, the control rod 39J is shown relative to the rest of theattachment stack. In this embodiment, it runs through the thickness ofthe entire attachment stack. However, it serves its purpose solely inthe levels of the moving hair handlers.

Numerical Dimensions of the Attachment Stack:

I want to make sure you have a good understanding of the size of theattachment stack. The following lists some information about itsdimensions:

-It's about as wide as the head of a razor 1-1.5 inches (2.54-3.81 cm)and, or perhaps, as wide as an electric hair trimmer which is 1.5-2inches (3.81-5.08 cm).

-Each channel in it is about the width of an electric hair trimmer'schannels, anywhere from 0.5 to 1.5 mm (0.0197-0.059 inches).

-The attachment stack drawings, which I've been showing you, aresimplified. They only have four channels. In practice, the system wouldhave about 15-25 channels, not just four.

-The length the attachment circuit stack will depend largely on howlong, the hair extension holding clips have to be made. I would expectthat stack's length to be between 4-8 inches.

-I would estimate that the height of the stack (from its lowest level toits top level where the bottom of the clip cartridge rests) to be lessthan 1 inch (2.54 cm).

-The above physical dimensions are only guidelines to understanding thefirst embodiment of the system. However, they should in no way beconstrued as limitations.

Remember that FIG. 39 shows a version of the attachment stack that issimplified, in that it only shows about six representative levels. Theactual attachment stack would have closer to twenty levels. After all,earlier about twenty different levels were described individually.

Hair Handler Movement Sequence

I have just finished explaining the physical structure of each part ofthe attachment circuit stack individually. Now, I will explain how thevarious hair handlers of the attachment circuit stack work together. Iwill give you a better idea of exactly how and when they move relativeto each other. In the following description, note that most of thedrawings represent cross-sectional views of the attachment stack. Thecross-sections run parallel to the layers of the attachment stack. Thehair extension cross-sections are represented by lightly shaded circles,and the scalp hair cross-sections by darkly shaded circles.

Step Series #1

In FIG. 41, we see that the channel narrowing entrance gates 41F and41G, respectively for the scalp hairs 41D and the for the hairextensions 41E, have been moved over to narrow their channels. They willlikely make this move exactly at the same time. They also serve asentrance gates by preventing hairs from prematurely entering theattachment area.

Recall, the purpose of the channel narrowing entrance gates is totemporarily narrow the channel down to one hair-width in metering areas41A and 41B, while preventing the hairs from making unauthorized entryinto the attachment area. Notice the connectivity bridges 41C of thehair-handling-tine assembly

Step Series #2

In FIG. 42, the combination entrance gate/channel narrowers have alreadybeen moved over the hair channels in the previous step. As such, in thisstep, they are only shown as outlines. In this step, the pushback gates42A, both one for the scalp hairs 42A and one for the hair extensions42A′, are moved over their channels in order to close a specified numberof hairs into their metering area notches 21A. Both pushback gates maymove exactly at the same time. Notice how each pushback gate has twometering area notches, each which grabs one hair.

Now look at FIG. 43, it shows what's happening in this step to the hairsfrom the left side of the channel plan view. Notice how we can see thehair extension entrance gate 43A and scalp hair entrance gate 19C. Theyprevent both the hair extensions and scalp hairs from entering theattachment area 43C prematurely. Also, notice that that the hairextension multiple pushback gates 42A′ and the scalp hair multiplepushback gates 42A. The tensioning hair straightener 43G isstraightening the scalp hairs 41D. The hair extensions 41E are beingheld by hair extension clip 32A. There is a straightening peg 28A shownbehind the hair extensions. The channel obstruction, previously shown as27A in FIG. 27, is shown here in FIG. 43 as 27A. The scalp hairs extendupwards from scalp 430. The obstruction 1H represents the forward edgeof the floor level of the hair extension tip trench. The tip trench isthe channel that supplies the hair extensions. Sometimes scalp hairswon't get processed until their follicles have already passed under andpast the attachment area, in which case such hairs might have to bendaround obstruction IH.

In FIG. 44, the previous side view is shown in a perspective view.Notice how the hair extensions 41E are hanging down from the hairextension holding clip 43I. Notice the straightening peg 28A below theclip 43I. It keeps these hair extensions from curving excessivelybackwards. Device 44C in front is the tensioning scalp hairstraightener. I have not described exactly how it works, for now, justthink of it as functionally equivalent to human fingers which pinch thescalp hairs 41D and lift them straight up away from the scalp. The scalphair straightener ensures that the scalp hairs stand straight up, likerows of corn facing an oncoming harvester. The bend-under system 44D isshown in this drawing. The wire-frame outline 44G represents the lowestlevels of the hair channel pathway of the attachment stack.

When looking at the side view in FIG. 43, keep in mind that the lightlyshaded lines represent hair extensions 41E hanging down from wherethey're held by clip 32A. The hair extension ends are loose, so itshelpful to think of them behaving much like the bristles of apaintbrush. This is to say that the clip 32A holds the hairs togethermuch like the metal crimp of a paintbrush.

In fact, FIG. 45 shows a paintbrush 45A superimposed on the clipped hairextensions with homologous regions of the two aligned. Like paintbrushbristles, the hair extension tips 45C are free to move about withincertain limits. But also like a paintbrush, to a large extent these tipswant to point straight downward. Also, notice the straightening peg 28Aand the darkly shaded channel obstruction. You know the obstruction thatprevents the hair extensions from advancing faster than they'reattached. The hair extension clip, straightening peg, and channelobstruction together functionally serve like the sides of metalpaintbrush crimp 45B.

Since only a limited number of hairs are to be metered out at a time,the small delicate hair handler gates only let a specified number pastthem at a time. If you can imagine yourself manually taking a smallstraight pin and using it to count out one bristle from a paintbrush ata time, then you'll have a good intuitive understanding of how thepushback gates count out hair extension tips. In FIG. 43, lines 41E showthe hair extensions and they move in the direction of arrow 43M.

The scalp hairs are shown as by lines 41D and move in the relativedirection of arrow 43L. The main difference between scalp hairs and hairextensions is that the scalp hairs are held under tension between thescalp and the straightener, 43G, but the hair extensions 41E are onlyheld by clip 32A. For now, think of the tensioning hair straightener 43Gas two human fingers pinching hairs and pulling them straight up awayfrom the scalp. We will discuss the design of the straightener in detaillater. The scalp hairs, in contrast to the hair extensions, behave lesslike paintbrush bristles and more like little ponytails. being held areunder tension. Once again, if you can imagine yourself using a straightpin to count out hairs one at a time from a pony tail held undertension, then you'll have a good intuitive understanding of what thepushback gates do to the scalp hairs.

Look at FIG. 42. By running an electric current or light beam across thechannel at each metering area 21A, we can ascertain whether or not theyhave scalp hairs in them. If they don't have scalp hairs in them, thentheir corresponding attachment nozzles need not be fired. That is to sayif there is not a scalp hair in a metering area, then the one nozzlethat corresponds to it need not shoot out a bead of adhesive. However,this strategy is probably needlessly complex because it requires eachnozzle to be independently controlled. Most likely the simpler scheme offiring all nozzles in the system at once will be used.

Step Series #3

In the previous step, as shown by FIG. 42, neither pushback gates 42Anor 42A′ nor slide out prevention gate 42C had been moved into theattachment area yet. In this step, as illustrated in FIG. 46, both thepushback gates and slide-out prevention gate have slid over theattachment area. This slide out preventer's purpose is to prevent hairextensions (and two a lesser extent scalp hairs) from falling out of theopen sides of their pushback gate metering notches before the pushbackgates come to rest lined up with each other. The slide out preventershould be moved forward, as shown, into the attachment area slightlybefore, or at the same time as, the pushback gates are.

Also in this step, both pushback gates have been moved straightforwardin order to carry the hairs they had metered out into the attachmentarea. Notice how the two hair extensions in the hair extension pushbackgate's notches 46B match up perfectly with the two scalp hairs in thescalp hair pushback gate's notches 21A. When pushback gates move hairsfrom the original metering area location to the attachment area, theyare functioning as transport-forward gates.

In FIG. 47, notice what this step looks like from a left side plan view.The hair extensions are lined up with the scalp hairs in the attachmentarea, because both the scalp and hair extension pushback gate notchesline up.

Step Series #4

Referring to FIG. 48 which is a top plan view, this step begins with theslide out prevention gate being moved back to its original position, sothat it no longer blocks the hairs from escaping from the open sides ofthis pushback gate notches. Of course, it doesn't need to block themanymore since the pushback gate notches are lined up and, as such, blockhairs from escaping from each other. Look closely, the pushback gatesare harder to see because only their outlines are shown; they are notshaded because they do not move in this step.

The second part that does move in this step is the pincher 9C. Noticehow the pincher has two notches in it that line up perfectly with thetwo hair holding notches of each of the pushback gates. It begins (or atleast continues it journey) from the right to the left. Along itsjourney it pushes both the hair extensions and scalp hairs together infront of the left wall of the attachment area. Here, they are held stilland close together in front of the adhesive polymer attachment nozzlesin this wall.

Refer back to FIG. 16.2 in order to see a three-dimensional picture ofthe pincher. Recall that its top is slanted forward such that it comesin contact with the hair extensions near where they are being held bythe pushback gates, before the lower portions of the pincher do. Themechanics behind this is illustrated by the series of drawings in FIGS.18.0-18.2. Since it's slanted design pinches the higher portions of thehair extensions first, it lets its lower levels pinch the hairextensions progressively later, guiding any wayward lower hair portionsinto alignment with the notches above them.

(Schematically from the SIDE—First Half of Step #4 only:)

FIG. 49 illustrates the very beginning of this step from the left side.In this drawing, the pincher is on its way but has not completed itsjourney to left. Notice how the lower portions 49A of the hairsextending below the pushback gates are not completely held togetherunlike their higher portions 49B, which are held more closely by thepushback gate notches above the pincher.

(Schematically from the SIDE—Second Half of Step #4 only:)

In FIG. 50, we see the second half of this step from the left side. Thepincher has moved farther leftward. We can see that the previouslywayward hair portions 50A have been brought into alignment with thepushback gate notches 42A and 42A′ above them. Because of the shape ofthe hair pincher, it pinches the hairs together at a point near 42A,above the attachment nozzles, and a point near 50A, below the attachmentnozzles. Notice how the pincher chambers are relatively wide in themiddle near area 50C, such that they form empty chambers around thelittle bundles of pinched hair. These empty chambers are carved out inorder to give the attachment bead room to form around the hairs.

Brake on Straightener Activated in this Step

At this point, there should be something that clamps down on the scalphairs while the attachment beads are being applied so that attachmentsystem can't be moved during this time. The part of the system that ismost capable of doing this is the tensioning hair straightener. Since wehaven't discussed the straightener in detail, just think of it as twohuman fingers capable of pinching hairs and pulling them straight upaway from the scalp. The straightener should clamp down before thepincher has reached its left most position. This will prevent theattachment system from being moved forward in the hair until theattachment beads are in place. In essence, the straightener isfunctioning as a brake.

Preferably, the straightener should brake after pinching together andpulling hairs up, not just after pinching before pulling hairs up. Thisstrategy will ensure that during the attachment process proper all scalphairs are pulled tight.

Step Series #5

In this step, FIG. 51 shows the pincher 9C is up against the left wall.The polymer adhesive nozzles 3B shoot a burst of liquid polymer at thehairs held together and centered in the hollow attachment chambers infront of them. The attachment chambers are formed when the pinchernotches are pressed up against the left wall of the attachment area.These dotted line circles 51C represent the liquid attachment polymersurrounding the hairs and hair extensions.

In FIG. 52, this step is illustrated from the left side. Notice thesenewly formed attachment beads 5A, shown as dark circles.

Step Series #6

In FIG. 53, notice the UV optical pathway 7B. This UV light source hitsthe liquid polymer beads 5A with a flash of intense UV light in order toharden them.

Step Series #7

Release Brake:

At this point, the straightener should release its pinch on the scalphairs. This will allow the attachment system to advance forward over thescalp.

Pushout:

We've attached the scalp hairs and hair extension together but we stillhave to help these attached hairs exit the attachment system. Thefollowing explanation will explain this step. This step is bestexplained by using two different drawings.

Schematically from the TOP—First Half of Step Series #7 only:

In FIG. 54, the first thing that happens is that entrance gates are slidback over the hair channel, blocking entrance to the attachment area, ifthey hadn't been already. Next, the scalp hair pushback gates move tothe right, placing them where they are in this drawing.

Schematically from the TOP—Second Half of Step Series #7 only:

In FIG. 55, we can see that the hair pincher has also moved from left toright. Although the way I've broken it down into two drawings mightsuggest the pincher doesn't move until the scalp-hair pushback gateshave moved, this is not the case. Really, I just drew them as separatesteps for clarity. Ideally, the pincher and the scalp-hair push backgates would start their journey to the right at exactly the same time.Referring to FIG. 55.1, the pincher ends its journey to the right byretracting into this pincher-retraction notch 55A, which has been formedinto the right hair channel lower stationary levels. Remember that thispincher has a portion that hangs down vertically into the stationarychannels as can be seen in FIG. 16-16.2.

The scalp-hair pushback gates after moving to right, as they did in FIG.54, retract straight back away from the attachment area, to come to restwhere they are in FIG. 55.

The hair-extension pushback gates move to the right, from where theywere in FIG. 54, to come to rest in line with exit channel 1G, as shownin FIG. 55. Notice that when it moves to the right, it pushes the hairsin its notches to right also. The pushback gate is functioning as apushout actuator in this step because it is pushing hairs out of theattachment area. Notice how the attached hairs 55B have been pushed sofar to the right that they are lined up with exit channel 1G.

Schematically from the SIDE—Both Halves of Step Series #7:

The left side view of this series of steps is shown in FIG. 56. Noticehow the entrance gates 43A and 19C have returned to a position wherethey block entrance to the attachment area. Also, notice that thescalp-hair scalp pushback gates and the pinchers are no longer incontact with the hairs, that's why they're not drawn in this diagram.Only the hair extension pushback gate 42A′ is still in contact with thehairs. The hair extension pushback gate is functioning as a pushoutactuator in this step. It pushes the attached hairs out of theattachment area to the exit channel.

Step Series #8

In FIG. 57, slightly before the hair extension pushback gate ends itsjourney to the right, the pullback hook 57A begins its journey timed tomeet up with the pushed out hairs as soon as they have moved far enoughright to allow them to be pulled back into the exit channel. This is tosay that, ideally, the pullback hook should come into contact with thepushed out hairs 55B slightly before they have completely ended theirjourney to the right.

Step Series #9

Schematically from the TOP—First Half of Step Series #9 only:

In FIG. 58, once the pullback hook 57A has surrounded the exiting hairs58B, the hair extension pushback gates 42A′ are free to move back to theleft, to where they are shown in this drawing.

Schematically from the TOP—Second Half of Step Series #9 only:

As shown, in FIG. 59, the pushback gate doesn't stop its journey back.It continues straight back away from the attachment area, pulling theexiting hairs farther and farther back in the exit channel until theyare engaged by the bend-under system. Once the exiting hairs are engagedby the bend-under system, the pullback gate is free to return to itsoriginal starting position. Also, notice that the hair extensionpushback gates have returned to their original position.

Schematically from the SIDE—Both Halves of Step Series #9:

FIG. 60 shows this series of steps from a left side plan view. Theexiting hair bundles 60A are being pulled back in this direction ofarrow 60B by the pullback hook 57A. At the back of the exit channel, thehair bundles 60A will be handed off to the bend-under system, which willcontinue this backwards pulling motion of the hair bundles 60A. Thisallows the pullback hook 57A to move forward returning to its startingposition. Notice how the attached scalp hairs 41D, shown as darklyshaded lines, and the attached hair extensions 41E, shown as lightlyshaded lines, are being pulled out of the tensioning hair straightener43G and hair extension clip 32A, respectively. Since the hair extensions41E are attached to the scalp hairs by the attachment beads SA, theymove with the scalp hairs. If the hair extensions were not attached,their tips would most likely bend over the pullback hook 57A and theywould not be pulled from their holding clip.

In FIG. 60, the front edge of hair-extension-channel floor is denoted by1H. This same front edge is also shown by 1H in FIG. 1. Referring againto FIG. 60, notice how scalp hairs 60H that originate under this floor1H bend around it, even if their higher portions have not been allowedinto the attachment area yet. This is fine because the pincher will tendto push the scalp hairs 60H that underlie the attachment area out of itsway. This way these hairs will be pushed below or to the side of wherethe attachment process occurs. Thus, these scalp hairs will notinterfere with the attachment process but, instead, will wait theirturn.

Restart the Cycle Again:

We can restart the cycle again even before the pullback hook hasreturned to its original position or even reached the back of the exitchannel. WE DO NOT HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE HOOK TO DO THIS BEFORE STARTINGTHE NEXT CYCLE THE NEXT CYCLE CAN START BEFORE THE HOOK FINISHES ITSBUSINESS AND RETURNS TO ITS STARTING POSITION.

Why is it Possible to Bring Addtional Hairs into the Attachment AreaBefore Hairs from the Past Cycles have Completely Cleared the AttachmentSystem? the Answer Follows.

FIG. 61 shows the mostly same thing, as FIG. 60, only in perspectiveview from the right side. The pullback hook is not shown in FIG. 61.This is because the exiting hairs have already been engaged by thebend-under system, and they no longer need the pullback hook. Noticethat when the attached hair extensions 41E and attached scalp hairs 41Dare pulled backwards, tension causes their lower portions 61G and 61H,respectively, to rise up at an angle. And in doing so, the attachedscalp hairs and attached hair extensions get out of the way of theunattached scalp hairs and unattached hair extensions behind them, evenbefore they are entirely pulled from the hair straightener channel 61Eand hair extension clip 32A, respectively. This makes it possible forthe spring-loaded hair extension clip 32A to advance forward pushing itsfront-most unattached hair extensions into the channel obstruction 27A,even before the attached hair extension has completely exited the clipthat holds it. Also, notice how the exiting hairs 41E and 41D have beenpulled clear of the functional areas 61C of the hair handling tines, sothat the hair handling tines are free to meter out, and position morehairs for attachment. For visual clarity in this diagram, no unattachedhair extensions or scalp hairs are shown behind the attached ones.

Note: The functional areas of the hair handling tines are defined asthose specially-shaped areas of the hair handling tines, usually attheir very ends, that actually touch and manipulate the hairs and hairextensions. Further, in a more abstract sense, the definition offunctional area can be extended to the sides of the hair channels thatactually touch and guide the hairs and hair extensions. Also, discreteareas with a specific function, such as nozzles, intakes, and dipoleends of a sensor gap, can be considered functional areas.

You may be wondering if the tops of the attached hair extensions andscalp hairs 41E and 41D, which haven't yet cleared their clip 32A andhair straightener channels 61E, respectively, won't get held up whenthey press against the dead end at the hair extension channelobstruction 27A.

The answer is no. Attached hairs and hair extensions will move aroundthe hair extension channel obstruction 27A. To further understand howthey move around it, take a look at FIG. 62. It's similar to FIG. 61,only it's a close up of the area near the channel obstruction. In FIG.62, the exiting hairs and hair extensions that are being pulled out ofthe straightener 43G and clip 32A are under tension and, as such, theydo not want to hang straight down, but instead, they want to become moreparallel with the clips. In doing so, they are forced to move up at anangle closer to the bottom of the hair extension clips. Notice how theexiting hair extensions have a bend 62A that overhangs the hairextension channel obstruction 27A. As such, the exiting hair extensionsdo not press up against the hair extension channel obstruction, butinstead, overhang it. This leaves the unprocessed hair extensions 41E(two shown) behind, to come in contact with both the channel obstruction27A and the hair handlers located at the level of 62E below.

Because of this configuration, the unprocessed hair extensions 41E arefree to be pushed forward into the dead end 27A, which also meansthey've been pushed forward far enough to be engaged by hair handlerslocated at the level of 62E, such. as the pushback gates.

Also, notice how a similar process is occurring with the upper ends ofthe scalp hairs 41D. A darker-shaded scalp hair has been attached to alighter-shaded hair extension and it is pulled around to right of thechannel obstruction 27A. This way the unprocessed scalp hairs, such asthose two behind, are free to be engaged by the hair handlers, evenbefore those ahead of them entirely exit the system. Thus, the cycle isfree to start again, even though attached hairs and hair extensions fromprevious cycles have not completely cleared the system.

Recall, the reason we use this hair extension channel obstruction 27A isto prevent the hair extension clip 32A from advancing forward fasterthan the hair extensions 41E in it are used, and to prevent the scalphairs 41D from interfering with said clip. Also note, that while theattachment adhesive is being applied by the nozzles, the pushback gateswould be free to return to the metering areas along the channels andisolate more hairs at this time. This could be made possible byintroducing a dedicated pushout actuator, so that the hair extensionpushback gates don't need to serve this dual purpose.

How the Attachment Stack and the Peripheral Structures Connected to itare Supported.

A simplified version of the attachment circuit stack is shown inisolation in FIG. 34. However, the attachment stack can't function incomplete isolation, as it's shown. Instead, it must be connected withcables, belts, and wires that support its functions. Also, it ideallyshould somehow be connected to a handle such that it can be moved overthe scalp by a human hand. (Or in a more ambitious embodiment by amechanical means such as a robotic arm.)

Up to this point, I have described the entire attachment circuit stack,and some peripheral structures connected to it. Now, I will discuss howthese peripheral structures are themselves supported, and how a humanhand can most ideally hold the attachment stack.

In FIG. 63, the entire attachment stack is shown as a single object 63A.Its individual layers have been omitted. The first thing that isconnected to the attachment stack 63A is the surrounding gray structure63B. I've named it the belt buckle because like a man's belt buckle it'srigid, planar, and attached to a longer flexible structure. The longerflexible structures that the belt buckle is connected to include cables,wires, and a linear chain of ribs that supports the bend-under belts.However, these trailing flexible structures are not shown in FIG. 63.They will be discussed later.

Notice how the attachment circuit stack 63A is seated in the center ofthe belt buckle 63B. To keep the attachment stack 63A and belt buckle63B together the same bolts 39N that run though the stack's layers tohelp hold them together also may run through the floor of the beltbuckle in order to secure the stack to it. Notice how the portions ofthese bolts 39N directly above the top of attachment stack have widenedcollars. You should assume that the bottoms of these bolts are extendedthrough a planar floor in the bottom of the belt buckle and threaded sothat nuts (not seen) can be screwed on them.

Previously, I mentioned longer flexible structures that extend from theback 63D of the belt buckle. Although not shown here, the flexiblestructures all lead to the support base unit. By support base unit, Imean the centralized equipment that provides support service to the handheld attachment system. For example, the type of vacuum cleaner that hasa flexible hose leading from a big heavy box, where its motor and bagreside, to a small hand held nozzle could be said to have a supportunit. Of course, the support unit would be the big heavy box where itsmotor resides because it provides suction to the handle unit. In asimilar manner, the handle held attacher system could be said to have asupport unit. This support unit serves various functions each of whichwill be described in turn below.

Solenoids/Actuators:

I have already mentioned that the hair handling tines are sliding layersthat must be moved back and forth. The power to slide them back andforth is delivered through cables connected to solenoids or some otherform of actuator.

As discussed earlier, there are multiple sliding hair handlers in theattachment stack, each with at least two attached cables. Two cablesbecause the cables must be grouped in opposing pairs that PULL inopposite directions. With this many cables, each attached to its ownsolenoid or spring; the cables could easily get entangled with eachother if some effort isn't made to isolate them from each other.

Manufacturers of bicycle brakes isolate individual brake cables inflexible tubes. Ideally, the inside surfaces of these tubes has a lowcoefficient of friction so that it can guide the cable around bendswithout generating a great deal of friction.

The actuator cables used with the attachment stack will also be isolatedin tube-like structures whose internal surfaces have a low coefficientof friction. However, since there will be many such tubes required, wewill use a flexible structure that has the cross-sections of many tubesparallel to each other such that they form a tube ribbon. In order toget the cables into this tube-ribbon, it may be helpful to configure theribbon as having two snap-together halves. Referring to FIG. 64, the twohalves 64A and 64A′ of the cable ribbon are shown before they're snappedtogether around the cables 64C. FIG. 64.1 shows the cable ribbon halvessnapped together. This diagram shows just one short length of such atube-ribbon 65A, but remember the tube-ribbon is a long and flexiblestructure made up of many such segment-lengths.

FIG. 65 shows how two tube-ribbons 65A can be used to carry actuatorcables to the attachment stack. Notice how the actuator cables 65C and65D extend out of their tube ribbons up along the length of the beltbuckle at which point they are guided around corners 65B on the beltbuckle and attached to their corresponding sliding hair handler layers,in the attachment stack. The cables 65C, which are guided around cornerswhose curvature lies in a plane parallel to the top surface of theattachment stack, are used to slide the hair handling tines back andforth in a sideways manner. The cables 65D, which are guided aroundcorners whose curvature lies in a plane perpendicular to the top of theattachment stack, are used to slide hair handling tines in a front andback direction.

Cables and Wires which Serve as Conductive Pathways:

Various types of energy might be conducted along pathways between thesupport base unit and the attachment stack. For example, ultravioletlight could be conducted along fiber optics in order to supply theattachment stack with the UV it needs to harden the adhesive polymerbeads. Either light, which requires fiber optics, or electricity, whichrequires conductive wires, must be carried in sensor circuits in orderto detect the presence of hairs. Also, if individual polymer adhesivenozzles are configured to operate independently of each other, then thebest way to achieve this is to use electricity to power the ejection ofliquid adhesive beads. The most likely ways electricity would be used,in this manner, is to cause a vapor burst by heating up a liquid withelectrical resistance or the actuation of a piezo-electric device in thenozzle regions. Certainly, in such configurations, there would have tobe many individual wires to form independent electrical circuits.

In the case of delivering UV to the polymer hardening system, one bundleof fiber optics would be sufficient. This is because it's fine if all UVoutputs are turned on at once. FIG. 66 shows an example of such a singlefiber optic cable bundle 66A. Notice how said bundle interfaces with theback of the UV conductive prism 66B. In FIG. 66, a side of the beltbuckle has been made transparent so that the UV conductive prism in itsinterior can be seen.

However, in the case of isolated circuits, whether they are for sensorsor jet nozzles, many different wires or fiber optic cables will have tobe used. At the point where these cables or wires reach the attachmentstack, they will have to be connected to it at precise points that matchthe wires up with their corresponding circuits in the attachment stack.FIG. 67 shows how this could be done. Multiple cable or wire ribbons 67Ashould be connected to a contact card 67B. The wire or cables attach tothe top surface of the contact card. Electricity or light from thesewires or cables is conducted through independent conductive patches thatrun vertically though the contact card.

Referring to FIG. 68, the contact card 67B is shown mated with thematrix of circuit contacts on surface 68A which extends from the back ofthe attachment stack. Notice how the contact card allows all the wiresto be attached as a unit to the circuit contacts on the attachmentstack. Whether optic cables carrying light or wires carryingelectricity, the contact card approach should be applicable.

Hoses to Carry Gases and Liquids:

Referring to FIG. 69, the adhesive liquid polymer is delivered to theattachment stack by hose 39I, which runs from the base unit to a hole inthe back of the attachment stack. Assuming individual control of the jetnozzles is either not necessary or achieved by using individualelectrical circuits, then only one hose will be needed to carry liquidpolymer to the attachment stack. Within the attachment stack, the liquidpolymer from this one hose will be distributed among the individualpolymer nozzles.

If individual control of the polymer nozzles is achieved by giving eachnozzle its own line whose pressure bursts are generated by a pneumaticmeans in the base unit, then it would be necessary to lead individualhoses to the attachment stack. These individual hoses would ideally takeon a ribbon configuration and interface with the attacher stack with acontact card configuration. However, individual pneumatic control isprobably not the preferred embodiment to use.

In an embodiment which requires gas or another liquid to be blown orsucked, then further hoses connecting the attachment stack with the baseunit will be used. In such an embodiment, additional levels withhose-receiving holes would extend from the back of the attachment stackin a similar stair-step pattern.

Belt Pulley Ribs Support the Bend-Under Belts:

Previously, in FIGS. 2-2.2, I introduced bend-under belts as a way toprevent hairs from piling up in the attachment system. However, I didn'texplain how these belts are supported. I will do that now. FIG. 70 showstwo bend under belt pairs. Each bend under belt pair is composed of twoopposing belts pinched together and moving in the same linear direction.The two belts of each pair converge at 2F where they pinch hairs betweenthem and carry those hairs with them. Although no support structure isshown in FIG. 70, any support structure for such belts should ideallyhave the following qualities:

1. It should pinch the two belts together.

2. It should hold the belts in a way that they are free to move withvery little friction.

3. It should hold the belts in a way that they don't fall loose ofwhatever is holding them.

4. It should neither obstruct the movement of hairs carried by the beltsnor prevent the hairs from falling free of the belt assembly when saidhairs are pulled from said belt assembly under tension.

FIG. 71 shows a short segment of a support structure with suchqualities. It's made up of joined ribs. I call each rib a pulley-rib.Each rib has got these four cylindrical structures 71A, which pinch thetwo belts together in the middle 71B of the assembly. Notice how thisarched shape 71C has a spring-like quality that helps pinch the beltstogether in the middle. This allows the belts to pinch hairs. betweenthem and carry the hairs. Further, in FIG. 71.2, the cylinders 71A widennear their tips 71D so as cradle the belts, in a notch 71J, and preventthem from escaping. Finally, if you look closely, you'll see that thecylindrical objects 71A have a second cylinder 71E running through theirhollow centers, which serves as an axle. This allows the cylinders toact as rollers that convey the belts with very little friction.Naturally, the inner surface of these rollers and outer surface of theiraxles should both be made of a low coefficient of friction material suchas Teflon or even employee bearings.

Referring to FIG. 71.1, four of these axles 71E and the arched shapedspring means 71C are molded as one plastic rib 71F. Many of theseplastic ribs are joined together as a single molded part by a longflexible rod 71G. This long flexible molded part is attached to ormolded as a single part with a portion 71H of the belt buckle. In orderto hold the belt rollers 71A, in FIG. 71.2 in place, planar parts 71I(FIGS. 71.1 and 71.3) with ideally chamfered holes could be snapped ontothe tapered tips of the axles 71E under the rollers. Segments such asthese should be placed along the length of the belt assembly to hold itsbelts in place along its route between the base unit and the attachmentstack.

The previously described pulley-rib support structure supports the twobelts in areas where they are pinched together and parallel, such asalong arrow 70A in FIG. 70. However, the converging funnel-shaped area2F needs a different kind of belt support structure other than thepulley-rib type. The funnel-shaped area needs belt supports that lookmore like those shown in FIG. 72. This support cradles the belt 72A inits notched shaped area 72B while it guides it around in a curvingfunnel shape.

We've discussed how these components support the belt, but what supportsthese supports themselves? The answer depends on the point along thelength of the belt assembly. For example, in FIG. 72, the funnel shapedsupport 72D and a few of the pulley-ribs behind it are connected suchthat they hang down from bottom 72C of the belt buckle supportstructure. The bottom of the belt buckle is shown as a transparent block72C, in this drawing.

In FIG. 63.1, the belt buckle assembly is shown from a left side planview. The object 2E is the bend-under system assembly. Notice how thebend-under assembly 2E extends down from the very bottom of belt buckle63B. Since the belt buckle is itself rigid, it holds those pulley-ribsattached to its undersurface in a straight inflexible path.

However, the belts are most likely driven by motors in the base unit,which are most likely several feet away. Consequently, the belts shouldideally be connected to the base unit in a flexible manner. Thus, thepulley-ribs that pinch the belts together should be attached to eachother in a flexible manner where flexibility is needed. As such,individual pulley-ribs are connected together as shown in FIG. 71.Notice how the individual pulley-ribs are connected at their tops by aflexible rod structure 71G. As a result, the belt assembly is inflexibledirectly under the belt buckle undersurface 71H but extends from thebelt buckle as a flexible structure that leads to the support base unit.

Above, many flexible means of connecting the base unit with the attacherhandle unit were described. In FIG. 73, many of these things are shownall together. To increase clarity, the attachment stack is invisible inthis drawing. However, you should think of everything shown asconnecting to or near the attachment stack. In order to consolidatethese various hoses, cables, wires and belts, we could run them allthough one large flexible enveloping hose 73A that surrounds them all.This enveloping hose 73A is shown as an outline. Although this drawingonly shows one short segment of it, really, it is a long flexiblestructure very likely several feet long.

Either the enveloping hose should remain open with a slit on itsunderside 73B, as it shown here, or the bend under belts must remainoutside of it until a sufficient distance from attachment stack wherethe hairs carried by the bendunder belts have been dropped. This is tosay the scalp hairs in the bend-under system should be free ofobstructions between themselves and the surface of the human head.

In FIG. 74 of the base unit, we see enveloping hoses 74A and 74B comingin from both the hair extension attachment and removal (not discussedyet) units, respectively. Also, we can see the various flexible lines74C including hoses, cables, wires, and belts coming back out of theirenveloping hoses and going to the functional areas of the base unit thatserve them. The various levels of the base unit represent differentfunctional areas within it. The structure to right of the base unit hasyet to be discussed. For now, just realize it is where removed (from thehead) hair extensions are taken and placed into clip cartridges heldbefore them on docks. This filling of clip cartridges is accomplished bya mechanism that moves from one docked cartridge to the next, mostlikely laterally.

Additionally, the base unit has the following components:

-   74D: HOME Reversing Filler-   74E: Advance Filler 1 notch-   74F: Passageways for Remover's Suction Hoses-   74G: OUTPUT belts for Transferred Hairs (to filler) & Wheels-   74H: Vacuum Hair Transfer Chamber-   741: INPUT belts for Removed Hairs & Drive Wheels-   74J: Remover's Solenoids-   74K: Remover's belt passageway & Drive Wheels-   74L: Attacher's adhesive hose passageway-   74M: Attacher's Solenoids for Sliding Tined Channels-   74N: Attacher's Sensor & Jet Electric Wire. Passageway-   740: Attacher's UV Fiber Optics passageway-   74P: Attacher's Pullback Belt's Drive Wheels-   74Q: Belt Drive Motors and Primary Pulley System-   74R: Vacuum Source/UV Source/Control Electronics-   74S: Shelf for insertion of containers of UV Adhesive    Handle Structure for the Attachment Stack-Belt Buckle Assembly:

Previously, I've described the attachment stack and the belt buckle thatsupports it, but the user must hold the belt buckle itself. FIG. 75shows a perspective view of the handle unit outer-frame. The handle unitouter-frame may also be referred to as the handle unit or handlealthough handle unit might also refer to the entire handle unit assemblybelt buckle, attachment stack, and all. It is the handle unit that theuser will use to hold and move the attachment stack assembly through thehair. Notice the lower holes 75A through the stilts 75B of the handleunit. The peg 63F, shown in FIG. 63, projects from the belt buckle andinserts into the lower holes 75A, shown in FIG. 75, in order to attachthe belt buckle to this handle. This peg-in-hole connection serves as arotational hinge. Ideally, the centers of these pegs should lie along aline that intersects the attachment areas of the attachment stack. Thiswill ensure that the attachment areas are held the correct distanceabove the scalp regardless of the rotational angle of the belt buckle.Alternatively, the belt buckle might be attached to the handle structureby a flexible yielding means such as spring rather than a hinge.Ideally, this yielding means would allow the belt buckle to follow theshape of the scalp while keeping the attachment area at a relativelyconstant distance above the scalp.

Also, notice these humps 75C in front of the lower peg connection hole.Their purpose is to push hairs out of the way so said hairs don't getcaught in the peg-in-hole connection area.

Notice the top of the handle unit is a separate piece. This separatepiece forms a canopy 75D that can slide on tracks 75E. Notice that thispicture shows a cable loop 75F delivered inside of a tube 75G. Thiscable loop is used to automatically open the canopy when changing hairextension cartridges. Since the canopy slides forwards to open andbackwards to close, it sweeps the long ends of the stored unattachedhair extensions backwards and out of the way of the user's hands andfront of the attachment stack. In other embodiments, the canopy mightmove out of the way rotationally (especially forward) or simply by beingremoved. Although embodiments that have no protective canopy are apossibility, it is best to make sure the long ends of the unattachedhair extensions have a concave notch or compartment to reside in thatkeeps them out of the way of the user's hands and the front of theattachment stack.

In FIG. 76, the belt buckle is shown attached to the handle unit. Noticethat the peg-in-hole connection 76A permits the belt buckle to rotaterelative to the handle. However, the belt buckle is prevented fromrotating too far downward past horizontal the by shelves 76B whichproject inward from the bottom of the handle under the belt buckle 76G.

Although I still haven't explained how the tensioning hair straightenerworks, FIG. 77 shows what its exterior looks like. Notice how thestraightener has a peg 77A, similar to the one the belt buckle has. Saidpeg will allow it to be rotationally attached to the handle unit.

In FIG. 76, the straightener's peg connects to the handle through thesecond set of holes 76C that lie above the holes used by the belt buckleto connect. Just as the belt buckle's peg in hole connection allowsrotation, so too does the straightener's.

FIG. 78 illustrates how both the attachment stack-belt buckle assembly76G and the tensioning hair straightener 43G rotate to follow thecurvature of the scalp 78C. FIG. 78 shows relative position over flatscalp areas, FIG. 78.1 over convex scalp areas 78C″ and FIG. 78.2 overconcave scalp areas 78C″. Especially, notice how some part of thestraightener always maintains contact with the scalp. This allows thestraightener to grab even hairs that are lying flat on the surface ofthe scalp and lift them straight up and perpendicular to the scalp, likecorn in a field. Also, notice that the portions of the belt buckle nearthe pivot 63F always remain the same height above the scalp although therearward portions might have a great deal of height variability.

FIG. 79 shows the entire handle unit being held by a human hand 79A.Notice the tensioning hair straightener 43G and the belt buckle assembly76G. FIG. 79.1 shows how the handle unit is held by a human hand andguided over the scalp between the tracks of the track-guide cap 79D. InFIG. 79.1, notice the hair extension clip cartridge 32B and the hairextensions 41E that it is holding.

Scalp Hair Tensioning Straightener.

FIG. 80 illustrates the tensioning hair straightener itself. It pickshairs 41D up and, under tension, straightens them away from the scalp.

In the plan top view in FIG. 80.2, notice that the straightener hasfunneling channels. As these funneling areas 80D narrow, scalp hairs 41Dare forced between them into the narrow pathways, as shown by the arrows80B.

In the perspective view in FIG. 80, once again, notice how its frontencounters the scalp hairs 41D first and funnels them into thinchannels. The scalp is represented by 80C. Also, notice how thestraightener is composed of lightly-shaded tines and darker-shadedtines.

The perspective largely front view in FIG. 81 shows only thelightly-shaded tines alone. In the largely rear view in FIG. 81.1, wecan see that all the lightly-shaded tines are connected to each other,by a connectivity bridge 81A at their backs.

The largely front view in FIG. 82 shows only the darker-shaded tinesalone. In the largely rear view in FIG. 82.1, we can see that all of thedarker-shaded tines are connected to each other, by two connectivitybridges 82A and 82B at their backs.

Thus, in FIG. 80, all the lightly-shaded tines can be moved as a unitwhile all the darker-shaded tines remain stationary as a unit. The exactactuation mechanisms that move the tines are a detail that's notimportant for this discussion. What is important is the path that thetines are moved along.

FIG. 80.1 illustrates the movement scheme that is used to get the tinesto first pinch and then lift hairs up straight. As the arrows indicate,the darker-shaded tines 80E remain still. The lightly-shaded tines 80Fare moved sequentially along the pathway indicated by the arrows #1-4.First, the lightly-shaded tines 80F are moved towards the darker-shadedtines 80E as the bottom arrow #1 indicates. This narrows the channelsand pinches hairs 41D between the lightly-shaded tines 8OF anddarker-shaded tines 80E. In order to lift the hairs, the lightly-shadedtines are raised up along the arrow #2. In order to repeat the process,the lightly-shaded tines must back away from the darker-shaded tines andthen lower, as shown by arrows #3 and #4. This is a process that occursrepeatedly and rapidly so that hairs do not have time to fall back downwhile the lightly-shaded tines are backing away and lowering themselves.

Please note, that the tines 80E themselves needn't move and in thisparticular embodiment don't, although in other embodiments both setsmight move. In this embodiment, since the tines 80E don't move, it isthey that rest on the scalp. As shown, tines 80F might be nested withintines 80E so that tines 80E never touch the scalp. Alternatively, tines8OF at their lowest positions might touch the scalp.

Referring to FIG. 80, the connectivity bridges 80H, which hold thestraightener's tines together, are placed up where they're out of theway of the lower portions of the hairs which are being pulled straight.The connectivity bridges are a certain height above the scalp. Hairslonger than this height will only be pulled straight to the height ofthe connectivity bridge, which is all that's necessary. Portions ofhairs that are longer than the bridge is high will be forced to bendunder the connectivity bridge rather than being pulled straight. Thistoo is acceptable. We don't need each entire hair to be straight, onlythe area near its roots where we're attaching a hair extension to it.

Also, notice that only the portion 80I towards the front of thestraightener is low enough to touch the scalp. We only need one point ofthe straightener to touch the scalp where it can pick up any hairs lyingflat against the scalp. After the hairs have been picked up away fromthe scalp, they will continue to be pinched, held, and straightened bytrailing portions 80J of the straightener, which needn't touch thescalp. The main reason that the straightener is so far above the scalpin its back regions is because the attacher circuit stack and its beltbuckle must be able to fit under the rear end of the straightener.Remember that the purpose of this straightener is to feed the attachmentstack with straight hairs held under tension. To do this, it has to runin front of the attacher and it will do its job better if it alsooverhangs the attachment stack so that hairs remain straight undertension all the way back until they're attached.

Of course, there are other ways of straightening hairs away from thescalp, other than a device exactly like the one shown. For example, avacuum nozzle could be placed over the hairs to suck them straight up.Similarly, air-blowing nozzles could be placed near the scalp to blowhair straight up. The problem with these other methods is that they'relikely to pull the dangling hair extension tips upward which isundesirable. Furthermore, hairs that are being blown or sucked by aircurrents, typically, could not be put under as much tension or held asstable as hairs could be by a direct contact mechanical straightener.Holding hairs under tension is especially crucial for tightly curledhair.

Also, don't forget that this straightener might be used to clamp down onhairs and prevent forward movement of the attachment system during theapplication the adhesive polymer beads.

Use of a Track-Cap to Guide Overhead Movement

Before hair extensions are attached or removed, a set of tracks isplaced on the head. FIGS. 83 and 83.1 shows what these tracks look likeon the scalp. These tracks might be made out of a rigid plastic that hasbeen custom-molded to fit a specific person's head. Alternatively, thetracks could be pre-manufactured in several standard sizes. Notice thatthese tracks are all attached into a single piece that can be placed onthe head like a helmet. Thus, I give such a set of tracks the nametrack-cap. The tracks are all spaced the same width from each other atall points. Their spacing width is equal to the width of the attachmentcircuit stack, or its processing swipe width to be more exact. The exactmethod used to custom form these tracks to the human head isn'timportant right now. For now, just know that, if a custom fit isdesired, we form a flexible plastic to the contours of a specificperson's head and then chemically treat it such that it becomes a rigidplastic that retains its shape. Once this track-guide cap is formed itcan be used many times on the same person.

Notice how the areas between the tracks form several rows over thescalp. Recall that the attachment circuit stack holds the hairextensions it is going to attach in clip cartridges. The system willlikely use one clip cartridge for every track-row of scalp. This is tosay, every time the attachment stack gets to the end of a track-row, itis picked up off of the scalp and its hair-extension cartridge should benear empty so it will be removed, and a new full hair extensioncartridge will be placed on the attachment stack; the system will be runthrough the next row of scalp.

As shown in FIG. 76, because the belt buckle and handle are wider thanthe attachment stack itself, their width will also be greater thetrack's width 76D. For this reason, the vertical portions 76E of thehandle will serve as stilts, which lift the outer margins of the belt,buckle above the tracks.

The tensioning straightener 43G should be made to fit precisely betweenthe tracks such that it can fit down between the tracks and touch thescalp. The straightener should fit snuggly between the tracks so thatthe fit between the tracks and straightener guides the entire handleunit over the scalp. Additionally, a snug fit will allow thestraightener to scrape any hairs pressed up against the tracks away fromthem and into it. In practice, the straightener might be just slightlywider than the inner-surfaces of the tracks. This way it will push thetracks slightly apart allowing any hairs whose roots originate under thetracks more direct access to the attachment stack. In other words, suchhairs will not have to bend around the tracks in order to enter theattachment stack.

The Hair Extension Remover

I've discussed how the hair extensions are attached to the scalp hairsby the attachment circuit stack. I've discussed how the attachment stackis held by a part named that belt buckle which itself is held by ahandle. However, once attached, the hair extensions will grow out awayfrom the scalp and need to be removed and re-attached near the scalpagain. I have invented a removal device to perform this function. Fromhere after, I will usually refer to this device as the remover. Below, Iwill describe how the remover functions.

FIG. 84 is a perspective drawing of the remover, in isolation. Recallhow I described the attachment stack in isolation. That is to say, Idescribed how it worked before showing how it was attached to the beltbuckle, a handle, or even any of the cables that supply it with power.I'm going to do the same thing with the remover. The remover, like theattachment stack, will likely be held by a belt buckle which itself willbe held by a handle. Alternatively, the remover might attach directlyinto the handle unit without the aid of a belt-buckle in a similar waythat the tensioning straightener does. In any case, FIG. 84 in isolationfrom most structures that surround and support it. For now, just knowthat the structures used to support it and move it through the hair arevery similar to those used for the attachment stack.

The first thing to notice about the remover is that, like attachmentstack, it has funneling channels in front. Thus, as it is moved throughthe hair, it funnels the hairs down into these narrowed passageways orhair channels 84A. Although it is not shown in FIG. 84, ideally, theremover has a tensioning hair straightener itself that is in front ofand overhangs it. As such, most optimally, the hairs that enter theremover are pulled straight up under tension. They're not just flippingaround in its hair channels.

In order for the remover to detach the hair extensions from the scalphairs, in this embodiment, the remover is going to apply a solvent tothe hairs. This solvent will be applied along the hair shafts from apoint little above where we expect the attachment beads to be to a pointdown near the scalp. However, since the solvent requires several minutesto work, the remover will have to make two passes through the hair. Thefirst pass is to apply the solvent. The second pass is to wash thesolvent off and carry away the freed hair extensions.

First Pass—Application of Solvent:

On the first pass, pipe 84B squirts solvent out of nozzle holes 84C.Alternatively, said nozzles holes might be configured as a singlecontinuous vertical slit. The solvent moves out of the nozzles to theleft and gets on the hairs that are moving through the narrowedpassageways 84A. Although the solvent might be a liquid, it may bepreferable to use a solvent with the viscosity of a gel or semi-solidpaste. The advantages to using a gel are that it does not evaporate asfast as a liquid and that it stays where it is put it. As such, you canthink of the solvent as being applied to the hairs in a long flatcontinuous bead or ribbon much like what comes out of a caulking gun ortoothpaste tube, only flatter.

After the solvent bead is applied, the hairs encounter bend-under system84D that bends them under the connectivity bride of the remover.However, unlike the attacher's bend under system, which is ideallyplaced as close to the scalp as we can get it, the remover's are placeda significant distance above the scalp. More specifically, mostoptimally, the remover's bend under system is placed above the areawhere the solvent has been applied to the hairs by nozzles 84C. This waythe bend under system only touches portions of the hairs above where thesolvent was applied to them. As such, the solvent will not be greatlydisturbed.

To help contain the solvent and washing fluid, the remover's channels84A have walls 84E ideally higher than any of the nozzles 84C. Pleasenote the solvent output might be entirely integrated into these hairchannel walls. They are just shown as separate in FIG. 84 forillustrative purposes.

Second Pass—Washing and the Removal of the Hair Extensions:

After waiting several minutes for the solvent to completely dissolve theadhesive that holds the hair extensions, the remover will make a secondpass. On the second pass, pipe assembly 84H squirts a washing fluid outof nozzles 84F, most likely water and a shampoo or detergent. Thiswashing fluid washes the solvent off the hairs. As the washing fluid isapplied, these square nozzles 84G vacuum it up before it has a chance toescape and make a mess. Of course, the hairs themselves will be pulledtowards said vacuum nozzles 84G. Since the hairs are perpendicular tothe vacuum nozzles, they won't be sucked into the nozzles but, instead,will just lie flat on the surface of the vacuum nozzles. However, thehairs won't stay there for long. Notice how the bend under system 84Djuts out slightly in front of the vacuum nozzles 84G. Of course, thedetached hairs will be pulled away by the bend-under system. Morespecifically, they'll be pulled backwards and under the vacuum nozzles84G. Although this happens to both scalp hairs and hair extensions, theymeet take a separate route soon after this point.

The scalp hairs, in the remover's bend under belts, take the familiarpath described for scalp hairs in the attachment system; I will brieflydescribe this path again. Referring to FIG. 2.1, once engaged by thebend-under belts, the scalp hairs are bent under the connectivity bridgelD and, because they're attached to the scalp, dropped. Of course, inthis version of the remover, the connectivity-bridge at the back of thechannel should be assumed to be the vacuum nozzles 84G, as shown in FIG.84.

However, something else happens to the hair extensions. As FIG. 85shows, since the hair extensions 41E are not attached to the scalp,there's nothing to pull them out of the bend-under belt assembly 2E.Consequently, the bend-under-belt system pulls said hairs under the hairchannel dead end ID and just carries them away. I'll explain exactlywhat happens to the carried-away hair extensions later, for now, justknow that they're headed for a system that's going to put them in thehair extension clip cartridges used by the attachment system. In otherwords, they're recycled. However, in a simpler embodiment, the hairextensions could simply be disposed of.

Hair Extension Recycling System (Optional)

Once removed from the scalp, the hair extensions can be recycled andused again. When this happens, the hair extensions are transported awayand processed through several steps that ready them for reuse.Ultimately, the hair extensions will be loaded into the hair extensionclip cartridges that are used with the attachment system.

I've explained how the remover removes hair extensions and transportsthem away using what I have referred to in the past as bend-under belts.In the context of this discussion, we will call the bend-under beltsthat lead from the remover the first transport belts, because they arethe first belts to transport the hair extensions away from the removeroff to another component of the system.

The device shown, in FIG. 86, is called the hair extension vacuum belttransfer unit. The first transport belts 86A take the hair extensions tothis device which transfers said hair extensions to a set of secondtransfer belts 86B in such a way that the hair extensions are allgrabbed at the same distance from their tips. This is to say that whenthe remover removes hair extensions, we cannot expect the firsttransport belts 86A to grab them all at the exact same distance fromtheir tips. Therefore, we use the vacuum belt transfer device to line upthe hair extension tips and then let a second set of belts 86B carry thelined-up hairs away. Aligning hair extension tips evenly is importantbecause, when we load the clip cartridges for the attachment system, wewill want all the hair extensions to hang down about the same distancefrom the clips in order for the hair attachment system to functionreliably.

The vacuum belt transfer unit works in the following manner. First thebelt set 86A which is a first transport belt system, and is likely thetail end of the bendunder belt system that comes from the remover,brings hair extensions to the vacuum transfer unit. The hair extensions41E dangle below the first transport belts 86A and are pulled throughthis small slit 86D in the side of the unit. As such, the lower end ofeach hair extension lags behind and gets slightly held up at 86E whereslit 86D dead ends in the lower platform 861 while the higher tip of thehair does not get caught up until the slit 86D dead ends at 86F in thehigher platform. This means the highest tip of hair extension 41Eadvances farther forward than its lower portions. Also, in the area 86Fwhere the higher platform dead ends, the first transport belts diverge,so that they stop pinching the hair extensions. Consequently, the beltsdrop the upper tip 86G of the hair extension 41E. However, the hairextension does not fall downwards because there is a vacuum beingapplied from above. Specifically, the vacuum is introduced through thispassage 86H. FIG. 86.1 shows an isolated view of the internal platformslevels and their dead-end slits.

Thus, as shown in FIG. 87, air is sucked through the vacuum transferunit in such a way that it takes the paths depicted by arrows 87A. Thiscauses the hair extension 41E which is no longer being pinched by thefirst transport belt system to be sucked upward tip first. It is veryimportant that the hair extension is sucked up tip first, not all atonce as a tangled ball or middle first as an inverted U-shape.

FIG. 88 is a side plan view of the system that I will use to illustratewhy the hair extension gets sucked up tip first. Because the tip hasbeen released at 88A and there are air intake openings 88B encirclingthe sides of the wall on the same level, the tip is subject to airflowing past it, as shown by the arrows 88I. This air flowing pastvacuums the tip upward. However, the lower platform level 86I doesn'thave any air intakes and is fairly well sealed off from the airflowoccurring above it. Furthermore, since the dead end in this lowerplatform occurs back at 86E, the lower portion of the hair extension isheld back in a manner that further shields it from the air flow of thevacuum. Thus, the lower portion 88E of the hair extension experiences nodirect lift from the vacuum. Only the higher portion 88J of the hairextension gets pulled upwards by the vacuum tip first. The lower portion88E of the hair extension that lags behind actually acts as somewhat ofan anchor that holds relatively still allowing the vacuum to pull theupper tip straight up under some degree of tension. Of course, as theupper tip of the hair extension is pulled up, the lower portions of thehair extension are sliding up from below following in said tip's path.The important thing is that the lower portions of the hair extension arefollowing in the tip's path. The lower portions are not being sucked upahead or at the same time as the tip. Consequently, the hair extensionalways points vertically upwards.

As the tip gets pulled higher and higher, it moves up this passage 86H.Because of the aerodynamics of the system, all tips will move to thecenter of the passageway 86H as they are pulled up. However, they arenot pulled up indefinitely. At point 88G, the movement of the aircurrents is no longer upward but switches to horizontal. This, ofcourse, forces the tip of the hair extension to move horizontally intobelts 88H. These are the second transport belts. Owing to theaerodynamic forces, all hairs will be forced to take nearly identicalpaths. Thus, they will be pulled sideways at the same point, and assuch, the second transport belts 86B will pinch all hair extensions atthe same distance from their tips.

FIG. 89 shows a top plan view of the vacuum belt transfer system. Thething to notice here are the darkly shaded funneling shields 89A infront of the second transport belts 86B. Their purpose is to help funnelthe hair extensions into the middle of the two pinching second transportbelts so that there's no chance that a hair extension will fly off tothe side and not get pinched. Recall that they hair extensions arecoming from the direction of arrow 89C.

Referring to FIG. 90, which is an off-back perspective view of the unit,notice that there is a vertical slit present at point 90A, andcontinuous with it is a horizontal slit present at point 90B whichcontinues to become a vertical slit at 90C. These slits are very thin soas not to disrupt the air flow by allowing great quantities of air to besucked in through them, instead of through the designated air intakes88B below. This slit series might have a resilient material on its edgesto act as a seal and further reduce air intake through it. The purposeof this long continuous slit is to give the hanging ends of the hairextensions a place where they can exit and still remain oriented largelyvertically downward. In contrast, if these slits weren't present, thelower portions of the hair extensions would be forced to bend tohorizontally and be dragged along floor 90E that underlies the secondtransport belts 86B. If this were to happen, the trailing hair extensiontips would get too close to the entrance 90F of the second transportbelts.

Undesirably, such trailing tips might themselves get vacuumed upwardsand pinched by the second transport belts. In other words, the same hairextension would be pinched twice by the belts. This must not happen.Only the upper leading tips of hair extensions should be pinched by thesecond transport belts. Otherwise, the hair extension clips will beloaded improperly. To ensure that the trailing tip does not get engagedby the belts, the continuous slit at 90A, 90B & 90C is further extendeddownward through slit area 90G on the side of the vacuum transfer unit'sdome.

In FIG. 91, the purpose of slit 90G, that goes down the side of thedome, is to pull the lower portions of the hair extensions increasinglyfarther away from the vacuum and pinching belts, which are at 91B. Asthe leading ends of the hair extensions 91C are moved away by the secondtransport belts, the trailing ends are forced to follow the dome slit90G in order to relieve tension. Ideally, this dome slit takes a spiral,rather than straight path, down this side of the dome. The purpose forthis spiral path is to make it more difficult for the hair extensions tobacktrack up the slit under the pull of the vacuum. Instead, thetrailing tips of the hair extensions are held safely away from thevacuum where they cannot be pulled into the second transport belts.Eventually, each hair extension will be pulled entirely from the system,as illustrated by this series 91C of hair extensions.

Note: Both the lower platforms with dead ends and exit slit areoptional. They are all means of shielding the trailing portions of thehair extension from a vacuum engagement mechanism. All that's reallyrequired is an assembly of a vacuum and conveyance which flows air oversaid conveyance means, such as belts, and an initial hair conveyancemeans, such as belts, to release the hairs in the proximity of saidassembly. Optionally, any means which (to some degree) shields thetrailing (or relative to description only, lower) portions hairextensions form air currents while preferentially allowing their leading(or upper) portions greater exposure could be used. Finally, engagementmechanisms that use some other hair straightening means, like thosementioned in this document, are a possibility. For example, a functionalequivalent of this system that uses electrical charges to attract thehairs to the second conveyance system is a possibility.

You should note that there would likely be one vacuum belt transfer unitlike this for each bend-under belt pair leading from the remover. FIG.84 shows a remover which has three bend-under belt pairs, and as such,it will have three vacuum transfer units, each like the one 84I justfinished describing. However, several first transport belts coming intoa vacuum transfer unit with one set of second transport belts is apossibility.

The bend-under belt pairs were renamed the first hair extensiontransport belts when discussed with reference to the vacuum belttransfer units. Of course, the first hair extension transport beltscould be supported by the pulley-rib system previously described andillustrated in FIG. 71. Such a pulley-rib system allows flexiblemovement of each belt pair it supports. This means that the removerhandle unit and the vacuum belt transfer unit could be flexiblyconnected.

Further still, it is likely desirable that the lower end of each hairextension that was bonded to each scalp hair is the same end that isbonded again after recycling. For this to occur, the bonded end of eachremoved hair extension must be made the leading end that gets pinched inthe vacuum belt transfer unit. To make this possible, the hairextensions removed from the remover must be flipped upside down beforebeing introduced into the vacuum belt transfer unit. The flexible natureof the belt pulley-rib system makes this possible. Each flexible beltpair is simply twisted 180° along its path from the remover handle unitto the vacuum belt transfer unit.

During a 180° flip, there' is risk of the hair extensions gettingtangled with the belts. This risk could be reduced by isolating theregions above the belt from those below by means of planar shelves thatextend outward laterally on both sides of each belt pair. Ideally, theseplanar shelves should be independent of the belts but pressed againstsaid belts. Said planar shelves should be supported between theprotective sides of the pulley-ribs and should be flexible themselves.

Another place that the pulley-rib configuration could be used to achieveflexibility is the second transport belt system. Referring to FIG. 91,the hair extensions 91C are carried away on the second transport belts86B to their next processing station. The next processing station islikely Reversing Clip Filler, which is discussed below. Since theReversing Clip Filler moves from side to side like the head of a dotmatrix printer, a portion of the second transport belts which leads toit must be made flexible, or at least movable, in order to follow itsmovement. This flexibility can be achieved by using a chain of flexiblepulley-ribs like those described earlier. Recall, I said that thebend-under belts that lead from the attacher were made flexible by usinga pulley-rib configuration, and went on to describe these pulley-ribs indetail.

Changing the Hair Extension Clip Cartridges on the Attachment StackUsing the Docks

I have explained how the vacuum belt transfer unit readies hairextension for reuse in clip cartridges. I will now discuss how theseclip cartridges are held on docks and, from there, loaded onto theattachment stack. In FIG. 92, we see the attachment system handle unit92A turned upside-down over a dock 92B that holds a hair extension clipcartridge. For visual clarity, the attachment stack, straightener, andmost, but not all, of the belt buckle belt buckle have been madeinvisible in this drawing.

In FIG. 93, the attachment system handle unit 93A has been broughtfarther down over dock 93B. Notice how the attachment handle unit 93Aslides down these pins 93C. These pins align both the attachment handleunit and belt buckle with the dock. This is achieved because both thelower portion of the handle unit outer-frame and the belt buckle eachhave their own pair of pin interlock slots 93E and 93F, respectively.Notice that although the belt buckle's pin interlock slots 93F areshown, the belt buckle itself is not. Furthermore, as the attachmenthandle slides down these pins, a switch is triggered that causes the topcanopy 93D of the attachment handle to slide open. This exposes the topof the attachment stack. Although the attachment stack is omitted fromthis drawing, recall that the top of the attachment stack is where theclip cartridges attach for use. Thus, this configuration brings the clipcartridge on the dock in contact with the top of the attachment stack.The clip cartridges are designed to lock onto the top of the attachmentstack. Perhaps, the clip cartridges will be made magnetic so that theyare attracted to the metallic attachment. stack. How ever it is done,the clip cartridges are attracted away from the docks and onto the topof the attachment stack. At which point, the attachment handle is raisedback up off the docks, and its top slides closed again. The attachmentsystem is now loaded with hair extensions and is ready to be run overthe scalp.

When the clip cartridge is emptied, the handle is brought back down overthe dock where it originally picked up the cartridge. This time theprocess is reversed. The empty clip cartridge is attracted away from thetop of the attachment stack and back onto the docks. This is likelyachieved by the cartridge-pinching structures 93G on the sides of thedock moving inwards and grabbing the clip cartridge. Now, thecartridge-free attachment stack is ready to pick up a full cartridgefrom another dock. Note: The cartridge pinching structures might be madeto move in and out by running a threaded rod through their threadedholes 93H and turning it. Of course, the left and rightcartridge-pinching halves will have to be threaded in oppositedirections so that they will move in opposite directions.

Filling Replacement Clip Cartridges with Hair Extensions on the Docks

I have described how the clip cartridges are held on docks so that theycan be utilized by the attachment system, and how vacuum belt transferunit feeds the second transport belts with hair extension all grabbed atthe same distance from their tips. The following discussion centers onwhat happens in between these two points. In other words, how the clipcartridges are filled with recycled hair extension.

FIG. 94 shows the Reversing Clip Filler. It is where the secondtransport belts bring the hair extensions. In fact, the second transportbelts 86B are shown entering it. Notice that there are four sets ofsecond transport belts 86B shown. Each set composed of four belts, twoupper and two lower, just as they were when they left the. vacuumtransfer units. Since this particular drawing shows four sets of belts,we are assuming that they have come from a remover that has fourbend-under belts, which means its part of a system that also likely hasfour separate vacuum belt transfer units.

Notice that there are clips being held by irremovable clip cartridge94B. This irremovable clip cartridge has a similar configuration to theones used by the attachment stack, however, this particular clipcartridge 94B can neither be removed from its position on support 94Cnor used on the attachment stack. As shown, these clips are empty ofhairs. However, this inverted-L-shaped support 94C has a turntable 94Dunder it that can swivel it around towards the second transport belts86B. This is why I call it the revering clip filler. It is capable ofreversing the direction its clips are facing in order to facilitatefilling its clips up with hair extensions from the second transportbelts 86B.

When the irremovable clip cartridge is swiveled around towards thesecond transport belts, the reversing clip filler looks as shown in FIG.95. Referring to the plan side view in FIG. 95.1, notice how the clips95A fit between the lower level 95B of second transport belts and theupper level of second transport belts 95C. The reason for thisconfiguration is to ensure that as the transport belts feed the clips95A with hair extensions that those hairs are being held at a pointabove and below the clips. This keeps the hair extensions straight andunder slight tension when they enter the clips. In contrast, if thesystem had belts only above or only below the clips, the hair extensiontips might bend into a horizontal position rather than being feed in avertical position into the clips. The hair extensions move along thesecond transport belts in the direction indicated by arrow 95D. Similarto the hair extension clips in the attachment system, these hairextension clips 95A are also likely mounted on spring-pins or afunctional equivalent. Consequently, said clips are filled with hairextensions by the transport belts, they are pushed progressivelybackwards away from said transport belts. Thus, their filled areas arepushed out of the way of the second transport belts that are fillingthem. Tabs 95F are the part of spring-pin assembly 95E that extendsdownward and can be pulled back by spring-pin pullback actuator 95G. Asimilar arrangement could be used on the docks in order to pull theirall their spring pins back, thereby, lining them up at the back of thecartridge during cartridge transfer to the attachment stack's top.

After the clips are filled, they are turned back away from the secondtransport belts, as shown in FIG. 94. Notice that the interior of thesupport contains a mechanism 94E. One of its purposes is to loosen andtighten the grip that the clips have on their hair extensions. I'll gointo the importance of this later on below.

The rods 94F serve as tracks that the reversing filler hangs down fromand moves along. Really, these two rods are much longer than shown inthis drawing. Remember, I said that the reversing filler moves from sideto side like the head of a dot matrix printer. It is these rods that itmoves along.

The notches 94G are not part of the reversing filler but are part of anindependent stationary level that overhangs the reversing filler. Hump94H is part of the reversing clip filler and moves with it. The hump isbeing forced up into the notches 94G by its spring 941. This set upallows the reversing filler to be moved precisely one notch over to theside. This is important because the reversing filler is going to have toline up with another part called the clip cartridge docks.

Although similar to the ones used on the attachment system, theirremovable clip cartridge 94B is not removable and cannot be used onthe attachment system. Instead, it has to transfer its hair extensionsto another clip cartridge that is removable and can be used on theattachment system. These other clip cartridges, which are removable, areheld on the clip cartridge docks.

FIG. 96 shows an individual clip cartridge dock. Its purpose is to holda removable clip cartridge so that the cartridge can be filled andtransferred to the attachment system, as previously described.

In practice, several docks are placed side by side in line as shown inFIG. 97. The exterior of all five of these docks looks like the one onthe far left-hand end that has clip cartridge 97A atop it. These otherfour docks have their exterior's removed in order to show the internalpart 97B, which is the internal clip cartridge loosening and pinretraction assembly. I am not going to go into detail now, just knowthat this part 97B is moved up and down to loosen and tighten the holdthe clips have on their hair extensions. It does this by forcingtapered-headed spring-pins extra far into the rear holes of the hairextension clips. This assembly also allows the various clip cartridgeengagement pins to retract downwards from the cartridge. To increasesimplicity, all five internal parts are likely connected below by aconnectivity bridge so that they can be actuated by a single actuator orshare a single set of springs. In practice, all five of these dockswould have a clip cartridge 97A atop, like the far left-hand dock on theend does. Each of these clip cartridges must be filled with hairextensions by the Reversing Clip Filler illustrated in FIG. 94.

Referring to FIG. 98, the clips 95A of the Reversing Clip Filler aremoved toward the clips 98B on the docks. For perspective, also, noticethe following the second transport belts 86B that fill the clips of theReversing Clip Filler with hair extensions, and the clip filler's ownirremovable clip cartridge. In this picture, the clip filler's clips 95Aare turned away from the second transport belts 86B that fill them withhair extensions. For visual clarity, the drawing has not beencomplicated by adding hair extensions to the reversing clip filler'sclips, but you should imagine hair extensions hanging down from saidclips.

Recall that I said that the reversing clip filler could move from sideto side like the head of a dot matrix printer. In FIG. 98, the two rods94F serve as the tracks that the clip filler slides from side to sideon. Notice how the clip filler hangs down from below said rods 94F. Saidrods are themselves supported by these by two rectangular structures98E. Said rectangular structures hang down from the block 98F. Noticethat said block 98F has two rods 98G running through it. Said rods 98Gserve as tracks that the block can slide forward and backward on. Thus,the reversing clip filler is not only capable of moving side to side,but it is also capable of moving forward and backward. In fact, the belt98H shown on these two wheels 98I represents the pulley system thatmoves the clip filler forward and backward. After the Reversing ClipFiller itself has been filled with hair extensions, it rotates aroundtowards the clip cartridge dock assembly 98J and then is moved forwardtowards them.

When the Reversing Filler is moved forward towards the clip cartridgeresting on its leftmost dock, its clips give their hair extensions tothe clips of the clip cartridge on the dock. The result is that thisremovable clip cartridge on the leftmost dock has been filled with hair.extensions and is ready to be picked up and used by the hair extensionattachment system. Although not shown for visual clarity, the hairextensions hang downward from these clips. The filled hair extensionclip cartridges on these docks are picked up by the attachment system,as previously described.

To facilitate this hair extension transfer, the grasp of each hair clip,in the clip cartridges both on the docks and Reversing Clip Filler, canbe loosened by a mechanism internal to the cartridge supports. Referringto FIG. 94 for the reversing clip filler, this type of looseningmechanism is shown as 94E. Referring to FIG. 97 for the cartridge docks,this type of loosening mechanism is shown as 97B. Such a looseningmechanism works by forcing spring-pins with tapered heads up into thehair extension clips, thus, forcing their sides apart. When such amechanism moves upwards the clips loosen, and when it moves downward,they re-tighten. To transfer hair extensions to the docks, first thedocks loosen their clips. Once the reversing clip has advanced its clipsfully forward, the clips on the docks are re-tightened, those on thereversing clip filler are loosened and the Reversing Clip Filler backsaway. Thus, making the hair extension transfer complete.

In FIG. 98, to the right side of the leftmost clip cartridge dock, arefour other clip cartridge docks. In this drawing, they don't look likethe leftmost dock because their exteriors aren't shown. However, inpractice, these four docks look just like this one on the left, eachwith its own clip cartridge atop. Recall, I told you that the reversingclip filler is capable of moving sideways, like the head of a dot matrixprinter. The reason why it can move to the side is so that it can moveitself into alignment with the clip cartridges on the neighboring docksin the same manner.

There are two things to consider about the system I've just described:

1. First, the cartridge docks aren't filled directly by the secondtransport belts. This is because most people have hairstyles where thehairs on their head are different lengths at different places. When weremove hair extensions from the scalp, we want to be able to put themback on the scalp at approximately the same place so the hairstyleremains the same. We want to do this while being able to comb theremover the same direction through the hair as we do the attachmentsystem because this makes use of the system easier. However, if we movethe remover the same direction over scalp as the attachment system andthen just directly fill the clip cartridges with the hair extensions.The first hairs it removed will be the last hairs into the cartridgesand, as such, will be the last to be re-attached. In other words, thehairs will be applied to the wrong area of the scalp.

The solution is to use the second transport belts to fill one set ofclips, namely the clips on the reversing clip filler. This means thehair extensions in the reversing clip filler are in backward order.However, when the reversing clip filler rotates around and transfers itshairs to a clip cartridge on a dock, the hairs are once again reversed.Consequently, they are now in the appropriate order to be used by theattachment system. Of course, if we weren't concerned with putting hairextensions back on the head in exactly the same position they came from,then we would use the second transport belts to directly fill the dockclips, omitting the Reversing Clip Filler. In this scenario, the secondtransport belts, would move laterally as the Reversing Clip Filler does,but deliver their hair extensions directly to the dock clips.

2. There's a second point I'd like to make. I said the attachment systemwill probably have narrower and, thus, more channels than the remover.Since this would mean that there are more clips that need to be filledthan second transport belts, how do all the clips get filled?

The short answer is that when the second transport belts are filling theclips of the reversing filler, we move each second transport belt sideto side slightly. This way each belt fills more than just one clip.Referring to FIG. 94, each in the set of four tabs 94J supports a pulleyroller (not shown) beneath itself which supports the extreme terminalends of a second transport belt 86B. By moving said tabs 94J side toside, using an actuator for each, the second transport belts can berhythmically moved back and forth so that each independentsecond-transport-belt assembly fills several clips evenly with hairextensions. Note: The tabs are staggered longitudinally relative to eachother so that actuator mechanisms, whose axes of movement and shafts areperpendicular to each tab 94J, can be staggered longitudinally betweenthe tabs.

Using New Hair Extensions Instead of Recycled:

I have described how recycled hair extensions are removed from the scalpand placed in the clips on the clip cartridge docks, but how do new hairextensions get introduced into the system? By new, I mean hairextensions that were not removed from the client's head.

Instead of using the reversing clip filler, an introduction-cartridge isused to fill the docked clip cartridges with new hair extensions. FIG.99 shows a drawing of an introduction-cartridge. Notice how it's made upof two long rows of hair extension clips 99A joined together. For visualclarity, only the clips on the very rightmost end are shown holding onlya very few hair extensions 41E. In practice, every single clip would beholding many hair extensions. Notice the two holes 99C in the farlateral sides of the introduction-cartridge. Most likely, this cartridgeis molded out of plastic and disposable. FIG. 99.1 shows a plan top viewof the same.

In FIG. 100, we, once again, see the clip cartridge docks. Again, I'llremind you that the exterior of every cartridge dock looks like the oneon the leftmost end. The holes 99C in the sides of theintroduction-cartridge 100B are shown being slide overintroduction-cartridge-alignment pins 100C attached to the cartridgedock assembly. This pin-in-hole interface will line theintroduction-cartridge up with all of the individual cartridges on thedocks. As the introduction-cartridge's clips are brought towards thedocks, they transfer their hair extensions to the cartridges on thedocks. To facilitate this, the loosening and tightening process of theclips on the docks might be triggered. This could be triggered by amanual button or when the introduction-cartridge touches a switch as itslides over the pins 100C. The assembly that holds pins 100C mighteither be temporarily moved into position or placed so laterally to thedocks that it does not interfere with the operation of the ReversingClip Filler.

Referring to FIG. 101, notice how the introduction-cartridge is composedof two rows of clips. The set of clips 95A floating in space representthe clips of a docked hair extension cartridge. The lower row 99A ofintroduction-cartridge clips holds the hair extensions below thedocked-cartridge's clips. The upper row 99A′ holds the hair extensionsabove the docked-cartridge's clips. This configuration keeps the hairextensions relatively straight as they're forced into the cartridge'sclips. If the introduction-cartridge just had one row of clips, the hairextensions might arc backwards when they come in contact with thedocked-cartridge's clips.

Referring to FIG. 99, the front of the introduction-cartridge might havea capping structure (not shown) that snaps onto the front of it in orderto help hold the introduction-cartridge's hair extensions in its clips.This cap needn't only block forward escape of the hair extensions, butalso could have internal slots that fit over each holding clip. Saidslots could have narrowing interiors that would pinch together the clipsin order to tighten their grip on the hair extensions during storage.

Referring back again to FIG. 100, the long switch bar 100D getstriggered when the attachment system handle unit is brought down farenough to touch it. It triggers a circuit that apprises the system thatthe hand unit is being brought down onto the docks. The system responsewill likely include opening the canopy 93D of the handle unit as shownin FIG. 93. Back to FIG. 100, the lower long switch bar 100E getstriggered when the handle unit is brought down all the way onto thedocks. This apprises the system that the handle unit attachment systemis completely docked. This triggers actions consistent with eitherplacing a clip cartridge onto the docks or removing one from the docks.The system computer will likely act in an alternating pattern in respectto this. For example, the first time the handle unit is brought downonto a dock it will be assumed that a clip cartridge needs to be pickedup and the second time that it needs to be put back on the dock. A clipcartridge may be delivered from a dock to the top of the attachmentstack by loosening the cartridge-grabbing mechanism 93G, as shown inFIG. 93. The body of the clip cartridge will most likely have enoughmagnetic character that it will be attracted to the top surface of themetallic attachment stack. Since the cartridge holding pins 96A, in FIG.96, and the clip-engagement pins 96B on the top of the docks line upperfectly with those on the attachment system, all pins on the dock willprobably be designed to descend (actively by actuator or passively onsprings) beneath and out of the cartridge allowing those on theattachment system to enter from the top taking their place. Recall part97B in FIG. 97. It most likely supports the cartridge holding and clip.engagement pins, thus, its descent makes their descent out the cartridgepossible. The cartridge, with the grabbing mechanism loosened, willremain magnetically attracted to the attachment stack when the handleunit is moved away from the docks. To remove a cartridge from theattachment system handle unit, thereby, putting it on the docks, theprocess is simply reversed. The cartridge-grabbing mechanisms aretightened on the cartridge overcoming the magnetic attraction it has tothe attachment stack, thus, holding said cartridge onto the docks.Referring to FIG. 100, we see the threaded rod 100F that runs throughall the threaded holes of the cartridge-grabbers on docks. When said rodis rotated, such as by an electric motor, all the grabbers on the dockseither tighten or loosen.

Notes:

-   -The bend-under systems might serve more than one hair channel and    bend hairs under areas other than the tine-connectivity bridges. For    example, it may bend some hairs under the sides of tine-assemblies.-   -Instead of using cables that pull the hair handler assemblies,    other types of actuators could be used including direct attachment    of rigid moving actuation rods-   -The construction of the so-called attachment stack, or any other    analogous processing embodiment, does not have to be out of sheets.    For example, levels fifteen through nineteen shown in FIGS. 26-20    could be configured as one or two molded parts that surround the    spring-pin assembly.-   -The channel obstruction 27A in FIG. 27.1 is optional because hair    handlers and opposing scalp hairs will likely keep the hair    extensions from advancing too fast.-   -The one-to-one attachment chamber to nozzle relationship is    optional. Sometimes one type of output nozzle can be shared across    several chambers.-   -The support base unit doesn't always have to be so big that it    needs to be placed several feet away. It could be small enough to be    incorporated into the handle unit.-   -Both the handle unit and belt buckle are optional because the    attachment stack could be held directly by hand, albeit it less than    ideal. Also, the attachment stack could be connected to a handle    means by a structure very different than the belt buckle. For    example, the attachment stack or any analogous processing stack or    system could be mounted on a handle unit in one of, but not limited    to, the following ways:    -   --Mounted on a fulcrum, so that it moves rotationally    -   --Mounted on a spring or other flexible mechanism, (or portions        of the processing system itself made from deferrable materials),        so that in can move in one or more of the following ways:        -   ---Vertical retraction away from, and advancement towards,            the scalp        -   ---Horizontal retraction away from, and advancement towards,            the scalp-   -Using sloped notches or a slide-out preventer to prevent hairs from    escaping during transport might be unnecessary.-   -Whenever we speak of a hair-pinching means, such as for the    bend-under system, the tensioning hair straightener, or the    transport belt system, we should realize that for pinching another    hair-engagement means might be substituted. For example, using    hooks, electrical-charges, or an otherwise sticky surface are such    examples of ways to engage hairs. Also, the belts needn't always be    configured in pairs to engage hairs. For example, they might either    use a non-pinching-engagement means or they might pinch hairs    between themselves and a stationary surface.-   -The tensioning hair straightener is optional. For example, the hair    could be held straight by a human hand.-   -The bend-under system is optional and not absolutely the only way    of getting hairs past obstructions associated with the processing    system. For example, this too could conceivably be done manually.-   -In many cases this document uses relativistic descriptions. For    example, frequently the left wall is referenced as the position    where the nozzles are or toward which the pinchers slide. This does    not mean that in all embodiments this will be the case. Left wall of    the attachment area is just used as a reference to orient the    reader. This is true of many directions given to describe the    system. For example, transport-forward is relative to the particular    destination; specific level numbers in the stack are relative to    this discussion only; the stacking order of the hair handlers and    some of the other levels can usually be varied; pushback doesn't    have to be back in all embodiments; the various functional areas of    the stack can be rearranged in different configurations. For    example, hair handlers can be placed in different levels such as    below the nozzle outputs; fluid nozzles can be placed in different    positions other than the left wall, for example, they could be    placed on a back wall of the attachment chamber below the    hair-extension-tip trench; the tip trench floor can itself be    thickened to accommodate nozzles or for any other reason. In other    words, various functional areas can be moved around in many ways    relative to each other in accordance with their functions. Sometimes    they can be omitted or substituted for other functional areas.-   -The use of the word “stack” in attachment stack (or any analogous    processing stack) is mostly used as a relativistic way of making the    description of the system more vivid to the reader. However,    functionally equivalent systems might be configured which are not    constructed as stacks. For example, using micro-machine technology    to put many hair-handler functional areas on the same level is an    example of this.-   -All processing stack (processing systems) can be configured with    only a single channel by itself.-   -The bead-forming liquid polymer can be any functional equivalent    adhesive or substance.-   -Metering area may refer not only to the area between a pushback    gate (or functional equivalent) and an entrance (or equivalent), but    also, the area where the metering function originally take place,    even if said hair handlers associated with said metering function    later move to a different position later. Although metering areas    are likely formed between pushback and entrance gates, this doesn't    have to be the case. Instead, they any area where a limited number    of hairs are isolated, usually to ready them for further processing.-   -Sometimes the functional areas of hair handlers are referred to as    gates or hair-handling gates.-   -Nozzles are any form of fluid (gas or liquid) output or even    gas-suspended solid particle output. For example, the word nozzle    does not always indicate that the output opening is on a projecting    part. Sometimes the word nozzle can even be applied to intakes into    which things are sucked.-   -Sometimes hair handler functional areas perform multiple-functions    that could be split among multiple hair handlers and the converse is    true. The familiar attachment-area pincher with its sloping front    used to bring wayward hairs together could be split up into a stack    of several pinchers placed on different levels; ideally, triggering    progressively lower levels progressively later. Some of these lower    levels could even be placed below the stationary levels of the    attachment stack.-   -Use of a track-cap is optional.-   -This first-described embodiment above has certain optional features    that aren't necessary and also lack certain other possible    enhancements. If the system can perform without a certain functional    part, even less effectively, then this part should be considered    optional.

Refirnments and Ideas Concerning the Attachment Stack Iteslf (and otherTypes of Processing Stacks by Analogy)

[[Attachment Refinements]]

Applying Adhesives in the most Optimal Manner

Previously, discussions about adhesive application suggested that itshould be applied to the hairs in spherical beads rather than a thincoating. Although beads do have real advantages over coatings, such asincreased peel strength, the main reason beads were used in the previousdiscussions is because they are more visible in the diagrams. Inpractice, it is better to use long thin coatings rather than beads.Elongated volumes of adhesive are the better on two accounts: 1. Theyare much harder to see than beads. 2. Because they are hard to see, theycan be made longer than spherical beads. Their additional lengthprovides more protection against slipping free. Although peel strengthis less than with spherical beads, this seems less of an issue anyway.

***Nozzle Flow Systems***

Several different types of nozzle systems can be used to apply theadhesive or any other fluid substance to the hairs. Some of thesesystems for controlling nozzle flow are described below.

Vapor bubbles generated in the adhesive or other fluid itself by smallheating elements, usually powered by electrical resistance, could beused to propel said fluid out of a nozzle. In FIG. 102.2, notice how thebeat generating resistance means 102D is placed near the tip of thenozzle 3B. In FIG. 102.3, notice how it generates an explosive force102C in the directions shown by the arrows. In order to generateelectrical resistance, the resistance-heating element 102D needs to havea higher electrical resistance than the electrical circuits supplyingit. This can be achieved by making the heating element narrower,thinner, or out of a material with a higher electrical resistivity thanthe rest of the circuit. In order to construct an assembly where theheating element is thinner or made from a different material, it couldbe constructed using at least two layers. In FIG. 102, the first layer102A forms the heating element itself, in FIG. 102.1; the second layer102B is used to reduce the resistivity of the overall electrical circuitin all areas except the area where localized heat is desired. Possibly,light carried by fiber optics could be used as an energy source togenerate the necessary heat in the appropriate area.

A second means of controlling nozzle flow is to use individual lineseach connected to its own individual macro-actuator or macro-valve. Bymacro, I generally mean a separate part that is too large to beincorporated within the attachment stack itself.

An alternative version of this configuration could use many nozzles thatshare a common line to a single macro-actuator or macro-valve. In thiscase, the nozzles will probably not be individually controlled but,instead, will all fire at once.

A hybrid between the two previous configurations would be all or manynozzles sharing a common line to their own macro-liquid supply but areindividually controlled by micro-pumps or micro-valves within the layersof the attachment stack. These micro-pumps include:

-   1. Vapor bubbles from heating elements-   2. Micro-actuators (such as Sandia's Laboratories micro-steam engine    actuator)-   3. Piezo-electric means like those used by some ink jet printers.

These micro-pumps will generally require an electric current in order tofunction. For manufacturing concerns regarding “micro-wires,” see theelectromagnetic pathways section below.

These micro-pumps or micro-valves might be placed anywhere along thefluid supply line between the fluid supply reservoir and final fluidoutput nozzles in the attachment area. Further still, micro-pumps orvalves placed in or near the attachment stack might be supplied withadhesive by a macro-pumping means. Such a macro-pumping means, when usedwith a micro-pump or valve means, would place the fluid under enoughpressure to carry it against gravity to the micro-pumps, however, littleenough pressure so that it can't exit the nozzles unaided by themicro-pumps.

If needed, especially for high viscosity adhesives, an air-in-linesystem powered by a base unit that generates pressurized airburstsbetween each droplet of liquid fired from each output nozzle. Of course,airbursts would be used in order to push fluid through the supply linesto the nozzles. For example, an air compressor that releases pressurizedair bursts into the supply line when solenoid valves open. Airburstsused between each liquid droplet ensure consistent droplet size andprevent trailing strands of adhesive (or other liquid) between eachoutput nozzle and the hairs it is wetting. Referring to FIG. 103, eachisolated fluid supply pathway or tine of the attachment stack generallyhas several nozzles that share it. Likewise, several of these supplytines themselves usually share a single adhesive supply line from thebase unit. For this reason, the amount of liquid introduced into thelines should be approximately equal to the number of nozzles timesgreater than the desired size of a single output droplet. This volume ofliquid will first be divided among the supply tines and then the severalnozzles on each tine. This division among two (splitting) nozzles on asingle tine is shown by in FIGS. 103 and 103.1. In FIG. 103, a volume offluid 103A is being shown pushed down the line by pressurized air 103Bbehind it. Representing FIG. 103 at a slightly later moment is FIG.103.1 that shows volume of fluid 103A being divided equally between thetwo attachment area nozzles 103C and 103D. In practice, there are likelymore than two nozzles used per attachment area. Further still, beforethis volume of liquid even reaches these attachment area nozzles, it hasto be divided in a similar manner by a manifold means at the back of theattachment stack, which connects the individual tine supply linestogether. Referring to FIG. 3, such a manifold is illustrated by 3G.

This fluid division system is the most ideal way to deliver fluids thatare slurries rather than solutions. For example, an adhesive that hasgrains of sand or fibers mechanically mixed in with it. If such a slurrywere delivered to the nozzles using a liquid-in-line system that doesnot separate small volumes of fluid between bursts of gas, then it wouldbe delivered in an unpredictable manner. This is because the liquid inthe slurry would tend to flow around the solids in the slurry. At first,this would lead to the output of undesirably liquid-rich droplets. Withcontinued use, supply-line blockages caused by the trailing solids wouldresult.

A system that uses the fluid division air burst system to deliver asolids-containing slurry must introduce the components of the slurryinto the line in special manner. For example, as illustrated by FIG.103.2, the solids 103E and liquids 103F should be independentlyintroduced into a mixing chamber 103G. The liquid portion 103F should beintroduced through a valve 103H. The solids portions should beintroduced using metering device 103I. It is very likely that thismetering device will take the form of an actuator that pushes aspecified amount of solids 103E into the mixing chamber 103G. Thismetering actuator may have a notch 103J that can be filled, most likelyvia hopper, with a specific volume of solids 103E. To facilitate mixing,this mixing chamber might be vibrated externally as an entire unit orinternally, such as by repeated vibrating of the metering actuator 103I.Once all the components are together in the mixing chamber, a thirdinput valve 103K connected to the mixing chamber should supply thepressurized airburst that moves the volume of mixed slurry through thesupply line. Arrow 103L represents the direction of the introducedpressurized airburst into the mixing chamber, arrow 103M represents thedirection of air-forced mixed slurry out of the mixing chamber into thesupply lines and ultimately to the splitting nozzles 103C and 103D.Overall, FIG. 103.2 can be thought of as a system that supplies thespitball-like globs of slurry to the splitting nozzles.

The above system shows air-bubbles being introduced between volumes ofadhesive at a mechanism in the line before the attachment stack is everreached. It is also possible to introduce the pressurized gas bubblesnear the nozzles in the attachment stack. When introducing gas bubblesnear the nozzles, liquid behind the air introduction point is going tobe pushed backwards. For this reason, the pressurized bursts shouldalways be introduced at a narrowed area of the nozzle such that theback-lying liquid has a greater surface area to offset the pressurecompared to the surface area of the narrowed nozzle output. This willprevent the back-lying liquid from being pushed excessively farbackwards in the supply line. This bubble. introduction point willlikely be placed at a point homologous to the location of the heatingelement in FIG. 102. In 102, gas may be introduced at said bubbleintroduction point by vapor generated by a heating element. However,there are other ways gas could be introduced at this “bubble point.”

Alternatively, referring again to FIG. 102, an external supply ofpressurized gas could be introduced at this point. The independent gassupply pathway can be run parallel to the adhesive supply channel eitherin a higher, lower level or even the same level in the attachment stack.This independent gas supply pathway's gas source might be pressurizedgas in the base unit or vapor generated by heating a fluid in saidindependent gas supply pathway.

****Nozzle Stack

In the first embodiment, the attachment stack was shown as has havingonly one level of nozzles that output only one type of liquid, namely anUV curable adhesive. The only other output level shown was for UV light.This previous configuration was presented first mainly because it wasthe best embodiment for illustrative purposes. However, we can imagineother embodiments that have several levels of nozzles that outputliquid. These various output nozzles on different levels work togetherto facilitate attachment of hair extensions to scalp hairs. For example,a two part adhesive system where one level of nozzles outputs anadhesive and another level of nozzles outputs an accelerator fluid thathastens the cure of said adhesive. When both parts combine on the hairsheld in front of them, the adhesive will harden rapidly. In a similarmanner, one level of nozzles could apply a durable but slow curingadhesive means, while another set of nozzles follows this with a fasthardening but much less durable adhesive means. Ideally, the fastercuring adhesive means would be applied over the slower curing adhesivemeans, so that it would not only attach hairs together but alsotemporarily serve as a protective coating that prevents the slow curingadhesive from escaping. An example of a pair of a slow and a fast curingadhesive is a cyanoacrylate, a slower strong adhesive, and a wax/rosinmixture that hardens rapidly upon cooling. However, to optimize the useof such a multiple nozzle level system, additional nozzle levels shouldbe added and used in accordance with a precise algorithm.

FIG. 104 is a perspective representation of the stack of nozzles andintakes present in a single attachment chamber. Although no attachmentchamber walls are shown, the two long cylinders represent a scalp hair41D and hair extension 41E held together in an attachment chamber. Eachoutput nozzle will typically, but not always, have a width thinner thaneach attachment chamber and will be centered on the left wall of eachattachment chamber. Alternatively, the vacuum intakes will usually havea width equal to several attachment chambers, and will be shared by theseveral attachment chambers in a single attachment area.

These attachment chambers are formed by the notches in the pincher shownin FIGS. 9 & 10, being pressed up against the left wall 16F, in FIG. 16,of the attachment area 1F, in FIG. 3. Thus, the nozzles that we arediscussing are arranged in a vertical stack along the left wall of theattachment area.

Adhesive will generally be applied in a manner that forms a thin filmalong a length of the hairs that are being attached together. In orderto do this, after a liquid, such as an adhesive is applied to the hairs,one or more nozzles may blow a certain amount of air or gas into theattachment chambers. Air blown into an attachment chamber will movethrough it along a largely vertical line. This will flatten the liquidalong the surfaces of the hairs, without the need for atomization.Alternatively, instead of blowing air, a vacuum intake could flatten theapplied adhesive by generating high velocity air currents that flow pastthe adhesive. Any excess adhesive that cannot be flattened will besucked into the vacuum intake. Naturally, blowing and sucking could beused together.

As shown by FIG. 104, cyanoacrylate adhesive is output onto the hairsfrom level 104C. Under the force of a vacuum 104D, it is spread down acertain length of the hairs until any excess is pulled into the vacuumintake. Next, a hot wax/rosin liquid is applied in a similar manner fromlevel 104E. This wax/rosin must be kept hot in order to remain liquid.In order to maintain its temperature, a closed circuit heating channellevel 104F is placed below the wax/rosin level. The closed circuitheating channel is composed of liquid passageways much like thosedescribed for the nozzle outputs. However, the closed-circuit channelsare not open on their ends but form a loop that returns their heatingliquid to the base unit. In other words, hot water will typically bepumped from the base unit through a closed-loop.

Each tine will have its own closed-loop, but these loops can share asingle delivery line similar using a scheme similar to that previouslyshown FIG. 3 for the adhesive outputs. However, the return sides of theloops cannot be connected together on a single manifold-level, as shownin FIG. 3, because such a connection would intersect with the deliverysides of each tine. To solve this problem, the return loops could becommonly connected by forming a manifold into a different level of theattachment stack itself. However, more ideally, this second level ofcommon connection manifold will be placed on a different level byforming it as separate molded part that splits the single return lineinto multiple branches before connecting to the attachment stack. Thus,by straddling the delivery loop tines, these multiple output branchescould be plugged as a unit into the individual return loop holes (oneper tine) on the attachment stack. Note that in this description of theconnection scheme, the configuration of delivery and return can beinterchanged.

Notice that below the wax/rosin level is a level 104G made of athermally insulating material that prevents the wax/rosin level's heatfrom escaping to levels below.

Once the wax/rosin liquid is applied to the hair it must be rapidlyhardened by rapid cooling. This is best achieved by application of acool liquid through nozzle level 104H. This cool liquid can be chilledwater or even a chilled organic solvent such as acetone. Notice how thechilled coolant is kept cold by a closed-circuit coolant loop level104I. Notice how the chilled hardening coolant is applied by an outputnozzle on its level and sucked along the length of the hairs by the(universal disposal) vacuum intake level 104D. The chilled coolant willlikely be able to harden the wax/rosin in a fraction of a second.

The end result is that the wax/rosin by coating the exterior of the hairbundle is both holding it together and holding in the liquidcyanoacrylate that requires several minutes to become hard. Thus, theattached hairs will be able to leave the attachment chamber withoutgetting cyanoacrylate on anything.

During this process, the walls of the attachment chamber, despite likelybeing coated with a non-stick substance, are likely to get coated withadhesive and wax/rosin themselves. In order to prevent build up, theymight be washed with hot cleaning fluid. The cleaning fluid will besupplied by an output nozzle 104J in the stack and sucked up by vacuumintake 104D. The cleaning fluid used should be hot enough to remelt thewax/rosin, and of a chemical nature so that it keeps the wax/rosindissolved even it even if it were to cool down. An oil is an example ofa fluid that can do this. Also, the cleaning fluid should have theability to dissolve liquid cyanoacrylate adhesive. Adding a powerfulorganic solvent such as acetone to the cleaning fluid will allow it dothis. Alternatively, two separate output nozzles with two separate typesof cleaning fluid could be used. In fact, the chilled coolant outputnozzle 104H could be filled with acetone itself. Although chilledacetone is capable of dissolving wax/rosin, it will harden wax/rosinmuch faster. Thus, the chilled acetone can be applied quickly to hardenthe wax/rosin coating on the hairs without dissolving it off. Althoughnot shown in this drawing, the vacuum disposal intake could itself bekept heated with a closed-loop system. Realize that the cleaning fluidsare typically not introduced into the attachment chambers until afterthe attached hairs have left them. The attachment chambers might becleaned in this manner every fraction of a second when no hairs are inthem. This period of time will be called the cleaning phase.

This drawing shows three of the most optional levels. The first of theseoptional levels, level 104K, applies a slurry of adhesive mixed withsand or other particles. The purpose of these particles is to increasethe peel strength of the attachment. However, such a slurry might notprovide an entirely invisible attachment. For this reason, thispeel-strength increasing formula should only be applied to a shortlength of the bundle of hairs. More specifically, it should be appliedtowards the top of all adhesive applied. At the top of the attachmentbead, it will protect the entire attachment bead from being peeledapart. The lower-lying length of adhesive, without strengtheningparticles, will serve to further strengthen the shear strength of theattachment, while remaining invisible. In order to apply the slurry toonly a short segment, a special slurry output nozzle 104K placedextremely close to a dedicated slurry vacuum intake 104L is used. Thisdedicated slurry vacuum intake would only be activated immediately afterthe special slurry is applied. Further features of note in FIG. 104 arethe roof level 104M, thermal insulation level 104N, optional spacinglevel 104O, spacing level 104P, and floor level (perhaps thermallyinsulative) 104Q.

The algorithm described above is not the only way attachment can bedone. There are similar but different algorithms that can be used toattach hairs. For example, a simpler stack that does not have all of thecomponents present in this stack can be used. For example, a stack withonly an adhesive output nozzle and a wax nozzle could be employed. Insuch a set up, the system might flood the entire attachment chamber withcyanoacrylate adhesive, or another suitable adhesive, and then applynegative pressure in the cyanoacrylate nozzle in order to suck theexcess back into it. This would leave only a thin coating of adhesive onthe hairs. This process could be repeated for the wax/rosin nozzle oreven the cooling nozzle if used. Further still, a cleaning fluid nozzlethat functions in a similar manner might be introduced. However, inorder to avoid using contaminated cleaning fluid, its nozzle most likelywould not suck back but, rather, there would be a separate vacuum intakeor the fluid would simply be allowed to escape from the system.Similarly, the stack might be configured slightly differently if adifferent type of adhesive was used. For example, a permanent adhesivethat hardens based on cooling it (likely a thermoplastic) wouldn'trequire a temporary protective coating.

Additionally, refinements can be made concerning the application ofcyanoacrylates and similar adhesives. These adhesives cure rapidly uponexposure to water and other some other chemicals. This is desirable fromthe standpoint that they'll achieve a certain amount of bonding strengthfaster. However, if cured too fast, these adhesives will not be asstrong. Thus, I propose the following technique to take advantage oftheir fast-cure property without loss of bonding strength. Afterapplication of a cyanoacrylate (or similar adhesive) to the hairs in theattachment chambers, using another nozzle set, apply ancure-accelerating substance, such as water, using another nozzle set.This cure-accelerating substance might be applied as small drops, asatomized in an air (or gas) steam, or as a true vapor in a gas stream,for example steam in air. However, ideally, only enough accelerator isapplied to cure a thin protective coating on the surface of the adhesivebead leaving the internal portions uncured. This thin protective coatingwill give the adhesive bead additional strength during the temporaryprotective coating application phase. In other words, preventingpermanent adhesive disruption by the temporary protective-coatingapplication itself. However, since only a thin layer of the exteriorwill have been cured, it will only remain this way for a very shortwhile, perhaps, only a fraction of a second. After this short period,the uncured portions below it will redissolve the coating. Now, with thetemporary protective coating encircling it, the once again liquidpermanent adhesive is free to cure more slowly and strongly. Finally,including substances in the protective coating that aid the permanentadhesive cure is a possibility.

Shut Down Between Users:

When the machine is shut down between users, the adhesive nozzles couldbe temporarily capped and protected from the environment, such as by oneof the following methods:

1. Allow excess wax into the attachment chambers. Reopen the attachmentchambers with a stream of hot oil/acetone cleaning fluid, or any otherheated or solvent-type fluid.

2. Allow the adhesive at the nozzle tips to cure, but then, reopen themwith a flood of cleaning solvent from the cleaning solvent nozzles.

3. Simply use negative pressure to pull the liquid backward in thenozzles. Thus, there will be air bubbles at the tips of the outputnozzles. These bubbles would protect the liquid in the nozzles from theenvironment.

4. Use negative pressure to pull the liquid backward in the nozzles.Allow a certain amount of air into the nozzles, but at some point duringthis process, use another level of nozzles to introduce an inert fluid,such as liquid oil or gaseous nitrogen, into the attachment chambers.This inert fluid will be sucked up by the adhesive outputs and otheroutputs that are undergoing negative pressure. The end result will bethat certain outputs, such as those for adhesive, will have the liquidsthat they contain protected by an inert fluid at their most exteriornozzle tips. And if necessary to protect the adhesive from the inertliquid itself, there will be a small air bubble between the two.

5. Use negative pressure to pull the liquid adhesive all the way back toits supply reservoir. Perhaps, construct the supply lines of Teflon orinject a washing fluid into said lines in order to lessen any residualadhesive in the supply lines.

***Means of Increasing Attachment Peel-Strength***

When talking about the strength of a hair-to-hair-extension attachment,we have two types of strength to consider. The first is tensile-shearstrength. This type of strength is measured by attaching two hairs withtheir shafts parallel to each other, and then pulling on alternate endsof the hairs from opposite sides of the attachment point. Cyanoacrylateadhesives provide extremely good tensile-shear strength attachments. Sogood that a scalp hair will usually be pulled from the scalp before itsattachment fails.

The second type of strength is peel-strength. This type of strength ismeasured by attaching two hairs with their shafts parallel to eachother, and then pulling both hairs apart hairs from the same side of theattachment point. In other words, peeling them apart in a wishbonefashion. Compared to their tensile-shear strength, cyanoacrylateadhesives provide very low peel-strength.

Low peel-strength is not altogether undesirable. Most importantly, hairextensions attached to the head would not be expected to experiencesignificant peel-forces under normal conditions. This is because for thehairs to experience great peel-forces a person would have to grab thehairs in the same manner that they would grab a wishbone. Specifically,they would have to use two hands to pinch hairs that are close togetheron the scalp and then pull their hands apart, while maintaining theirgrasp. The only time a person would typically be expected to dosomething like this is while braiding the hair.

Finally, low peel-strength is desirable from the standpoint that it actsas a safety mechanism. If somebody is braiding the hair in an overlyaggressive manner, it is far more desirable for the hair extensionattachments to fail rather than breaking the natural hairs growing outof the scalp.

Despite the advantages of low peel-strength, should a higherpeel-strength be desired, the following methods can be used to increasepeel-strength:

****Increasing Peel-Strength by Mechanical Manipulation of Hair Shafts

A laser or mechanical means could cut small holes in scalp hairs or hairextensions in order to allow the adhesive more intimate contact withthem. Such a laser system could be configured in a tine pattern, as theUV outputs were in the original embodiment, and placed as a layer in theattachment stack or even adjacent to spinneret holes in order to processhair extensions the moment after they have been extruded in themanufacturing process (see discussion on hair extension manufacturing).If a mechanical part is used to make small perforations through scalphairs or hair extensions, it could be configured as a moving tinestructurally similar to the pincher placed either in the attachmentstack or hair extension manufacturing process.

Regardless of whether a laser or mechanical part, if used in theattachment stack, it should cut notches or small holes through hairs orhair extensions near the area where adhesive is to be applied to them.The attachment stack's algorithm might be adjusted to allow hairextensions into the attachment area before scalp hairs. This way hairextension tips could be perforated alone without perforating, and thusweakening, the natural scalp hairs.

****Increasing Peel-Strength by Using Adhesives Composited with StrongerPolymers

Some adhesives, such as pine rosin, are adequately sticky to hold twohairs firmly together against tensile-shear forces. In fact, they areattached well enough that an attached hair extension could pull a hairroot from the scalp before coming unattached. However, rosin and someother functionally equivalent adhesives have incredibly weakpeel-strengths and low resistances to heat. Similarly, there arepolymers, like polystyrene that are relatively structurally sound withrespect to peel-strength and heat resistance but have very littletensile-shear adhesive ability. This is to say these polymers will forma strong ring around hair fibers but won't hold onto them. By mixing asticky, but otherwise structurally and thermally unsound, adhesive likerosin with a structurally and more thermally sound polymer, likepolystyrene or an acrylic, a composite that has both adhesivetensile-shear strength and peel-strength can be achieved. In the case ofa rosin and polystyrene composite, a hot-melt type adhesive would beproduced. However, adhesives composites that cure by chemical reactionsare also possibilities.

The use of hot-melt thermoplastics, especially those (such aspolystyrene) that are dissolvable by organic solvents, is desirable.Such substances could be applied through heating and cooling but removedby a solvent such as acetone. As mentioned above, such thermoplasticsmay be improved by mixing a sticky substance, such as rosin, with themto increase their ability to provide tensile-shear strength by stickingto the hair better. Furthermore, other ingredients may be mixed withthermoplastics to adjust their melting point up or down and increasetheir peel-strength such as by mixing fibers or particles into them. Thethermoplastic or hot-melt type materials used to increase peel-strengthshouldn't be limited those discussed such as wax and polystyrene. Anyfunctional equivalent that hardens to an acceptable peel-strength uponcooling could be used. Likewise, the sticky adhesive shouldn't belimited to those discussed such as rosin, any functional equivalentcould be used. For example, the various sticky adhesives used onadhesive tapes could be used.

Finally, when using these sticky adhesive composites, there is a chancethat the exteriors of the attachment beads will themselves be sticky. Tocounteract this stickiness, a fluid, or any other substance whosemolecules themselves will be bound by the adhesive should washedsprayed, or otherwise exposed, over said bead, thereby, counteractingexternal stickiness. Such a substance could be integrated into thecleaning fluid formula or applied separately. Alternatively, thiscounteracting-substance means could include using a hot-melt fluidthat's not sticky, thereby, applying a non-sticky outer coating.Finally, enough solvent, perhaps as part of the cleaning fluid, could beapplied to wash only the external stickiness away. In all cases, themeasures will most likely be applied in the attachment stack but theymight also be applied after exit from the attachment stack.

****Increasing Peel-Strength by Using Adhesives Composited withStrengthening-Particles

Application of adhesive with peel-strength-increasing particles, such asfibers, sand or small glass beads, could be used to increase adhesivepeel-strength. Using fiber or particle composites to increasepeel-strength opens up to possibility of using many types of adhesiveswhose peel-strength might, otherwise, be too low. For example, a waxy orhot-melt thermoplastic type material becomes a possibility. A wax or athermoplastic with a very high melting point could be applied andstrengthened by application fibers or sand particles.

Below are some various application methods for applyingadhesive-particle composites:

-   1. Apply adhesive to the entire length of attachment point    -   -A. Blow-dry particles onto the adhesive which didn't have        particles in it    -   -B. Mix an adhesive and particles together in a slurry before        adhesive application.        -   --1. Use vacuum and/or pressurized air to spread the            adhesive as described above        -   --2. The suck-back (dipping) approach: Squirt out and suck            back the adhesive into the topmost high peel-strength            adhesive nozzle, but only enough to descend the desired            length down the hair. Note: During the cleaning phase            between adhesive application, it is likely that a certain            amount of sucked back adhesive at the nozzle tip will be            discarded rather than risking contamination by mixing it            back with the main supply.-   2. Apply sand only to the top most portion of the adhesive    attachment point length.    -   -A. Blow-dry sand particles onto the adhesive which didn't have        particles in it.        -   --1. Use little enough vacuum disposal. intake power that            the sand doesn't descend much vertically.        -   --2. Use a second higher dedicated vacuum that is only            turned on during sand output, and maybe a little bit during            the cleaning phase.    -   -B. Squirt an pre-mixed adhesive and particle slurry:        -   --1. Use little enough vacuum and/or pressurized air that            the sand slurry is squirted out and descends very little            vertically        -   --2. Use a second higher vacuum that is only turned on            during sand output, and maybe a little during the cleaning            phase.        -   --3. The suck-back (dipping) approach: Squirt out and suck            back the adhesive into the topmost high peel-strength            adhesive nozzle, but only enough to descend the desired            length down the hair.            ****Equipment Concerns Relevant to Using Adhesives            Composited with Strengthening-Fibers

The type of particle mixed into the adhesive to increase peel-strengthcould be small fibers. Generally, strengthening-fibers should have alength shorter, or not much longer, than the minimum diameter of theadhesive supply line and nozzles. These fibers should be madecorrespondingly thin in diameter themselves to achieve a certain degreeof flexibility. These small fibers could be pre-added to the adhesivetank and agitated into suspension before each use.

The suspension in the tanks could be filtered with a screen, perhapsconfigured as a centrifuge, whose screen holes are equal to or slightlysmaller than the smallest diameter of the adhesive feed line. Thisscreen should be placed just before introduction into the adhesivesupply line. Perhaps, said screen is enclosed in the same airtightchamber as the adhesive reservoir tank. In which case, it might beplaced in the tank above the liquid level and liquid would be pumpedinto and returned through it either into the main tank or a smaller areathat directly feeds the adhesive supply line. Its purpose would be tofunction as a filter to remove excessively large particles in theadhesive. Otherwise, these particles might clog the adhesive supply lineif left in the adhesive.

Note: All sand and fiber slurry nozzles may have their slurries pumpedto them as a continuous line of liquid slurry or the slurry could bedelivered in isolated globs separated and forced through the supplylines by bursts of pressurized gas as shown in FIGS. 103 and 103.1

****Increasing Peel-Strength by Application of Chemical Vapor Deposition(CVD) Film Rings As the Attachment Adhesive

Another possible way of increasing peel-strength is to somehow apply aring of extremely strong material around the hairs that are to be heldtogether. The inorganic solids formed by Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)are much stronger than polymer-based adhesives. CVD is a process thatintroduces two or more gases into an area and then exposes them to anenergy source such as heat. The energy causes a chemical reactionresulting in the deposition of a solid. Many solids formed this way areextremely pure, and as such, extremely strong.

CVD rings could be generated around hairs to be attached by introducinggases and energetic light, or other energy, into the attachment chamber.The outputs would be arranged in a stack similar to the one shown byFIG. 104 and previously described. The gases would be output by nozzlesvery similar to those previously described for use with liquids. Atine-shaped prism that carries light via internal reflection couldoutput the energetic light, most likely InfraRed (I.R.). This lighttransport system would take a configuration much like the one previouslydescribed for carrying UV, in order to effect adhesive curing. A vacuumintake might be used to remove excess gases. In order to contain thegases in the attachment chambers, the pincher should make intimatecontact with the left wall of the attachment chamber. The seal betweenthe left wall and the pincher might be increased by making the pincherout of or attaching to it a soft flexible material. For example, smallsheets of rubber placed on the exterior of pincher and extendedpartially over its notches could help increase this seal. The CVD systemcould use the following attributes to help enhance its function:

-   -   -The interior notches of the pinchers could be reflective so        that they reflect any light that goes through or around the        hairs in the attachment chamber back at the hairs. This        reflective surface will also help prevent the pinchers from        themselves being significantly heated by the energy source.    -   -Alternatively, the pinchers could have their own internal        reflection light transport system constructed into their        interior. This system would be similar the UV transport system        previously described, except it would be constructed in the        interior of the moving pinchers instead of the interior of        static portions of the attachment stack.    -   -The pinchers should be cooled either internally or externally        by fluid. If an internal system were used, this fluid cooling        system would most likely use a closed-loop coolant circulation        system, similar to that previously described for cooling left        wall nozzles of the attachment stack. If an external cooling        system were used, it would most likely be based on left wall        output nozzles spraying a cooling fluid through the attachment        chamber and onto the pincher's interior surface.    -   -The small bundle of hairs to be attached in each attachment        chamber should be quickly heated up with focused I.R.        Presumably, if a low enough frequency of I.R. were used, it        would deeply penetrate and heat up the entire bundle at once        rather than being stopped by the most superficial surfaces of        the bundle.        -   --If the I.R. can't penetrate the bundle well enough, the of            use focusing reflectors on the inside of the pincher that            reflect any light that went around each hair bundle back at            specific point said hair bundles could be provided. This            will provide the light necessary to cause vapor deposition            on sides of the hair bundles far relative to the left wall            optical outputs.

Below are some characteristics and dimensions that CVD rings attachinghair bundles should ideally have, but they are not limitations:

-   -   --Diameter of one hair is about 50.7 microns    -   --The CVD ring around attached hairs should be 50-300 microns        high, or long relative to the length of the hair.    -   --The ring's wall thickness should be about 3-5 microns    -   --The ring's diameter should be 100-200 microns    -   --Ideally, this ring should be clear    -   --The ring should have a high tensile strength    -   --The ring should be applied in about 0.25 seconds or less    -   --The application temperature should be <140-320 degrees C.    -   --Ideally, it should be brittle enough to be smashed off or        somehow chemically dissolvable, such as by an acid. For example,        calcium carbonate can be formed as a clear solid that can be        dissolvable by moderate strength acids.        ****Increasing Peel-Strength by Applying Coating Patterns to        Keratin Fibers (as Opposed to Entire Surface Uniform Coatings):

Coating patterns applied to the surface of the hair extensions mightcould be used to either increase adhesive peel-strength or decrease thecoefficient of friction of a hair extension's surface, thereby, makingpeeling an attachment point apart much more difficult. Such coatingpatterns would most likely be applied during the hair extensionmanufacturing process. Thus, for more details on this consult thesection of this document that deals with hair extension manufacturing.

***Utility Features (Safety/Maintenance)--Stack Level***

The attachment stack might have certain features. incorporated into itthat ensure safety and system maintenance. I call these features utilityfeatures. The following are such utility features:

****Escaped Electro-Magnetic Radiation Detector

In systems that use intense ultra violet, or any other type of intenseelectro-magnetic radiation, detectors might be used to detect escapedelectromagnetic radiation. Usually, when intense electromagneticradiation is used, it will be confined to a closed area. For example,the pincher, by being pressed against the left wall, could in large partbe used to form this closed confining area. The isolation of this areacould be further aided by an attachment chamber seal as previouslydescribed for containing gases in the CVD system. However, if there is abreach in this closed area allowing electromagnetic radiation to escape,a detector could alert of this. The alert could merely be audible,visual, or might shut the entire attachment system off. The detectorshould be placed along a line of sight to the attachment area where theelectromagnetic radiation is being used. It may be placed above or belowthe attachment stack or even incorporated into the attachment stack as alayer within it.

****Automated Lubricant and Cleaning Solvent Outputs

The moving parts of the attachment stack will benefit from occasionallybeing lubricated and cleaned. For this reason, it might be advantageousto incorporate automated lubricant and cleaning solvent outputs into theattachment stack circuit itself. In this case, the outputs could bepositioned in a similar manner to the adhesive outputs. Alternatively,the outputs could be configured in an entirely different manner. Forexample, placed well above the attachment stack, perhaps, as a partindependent of it. Cleaning and lubrication could be performed byintroducing solvents and lubricants separately. Alternatively, asolvent, such as acetone, could be mixed with a light lubricating oil.Most of the used solution could be drained into a reservoir. Verylikely, this reservoir means would include a fixture to hold the handleunit and a lid to prevent splashes. The acetone portion of the residualsolution would evaporate leaving the lubrication portion behind on themoving surfaces in the attachment stack. This cleaning process could betrigger automatically, for example, between every salon client. Duringthis automatic triggering, the moving parts of the system would likelybe activated so as to distribute the solution evenly. Acetone itself isa disinfectant. However, inclusion of other disinfects, if necessarycould guarantee absolute cleanliness between clients.

At certain times automatically or manually triggered by a user, theinternal fluid supply lines (such as for adhesive) might be cleaned byflushing them with solvents and/or hot fluids. These flushing fluidsmight simply be delivered out of the fluid outputs (nozzles) or theycould be actuated back and forth in the lines in a forward and reversingmotion, perhaps, under great pressure. To facilitate introduction ofcleaning fluids the supply lines might have valves that shunt theirnormal fluid supplies in preference for the flushing-fluid supply.

[[Hair Extension Supply and Storage]]

***Hair Extension Feed Using Clips***

The hair extension holding clips, described in the original embodiment,can be said to be a pinching holding means because they hold hairextensions by pinching them. When supplying the system with hairextensions using holding clips, there are several concerns:

****Bending Hair Extensions Over Connectivity Bridges while Keeping themas Firms as Possible with the Straightening Peg:

Referring to FIG. 27, in order to give the hair extensions plenty ofroom to bend over the attachment stack's connectivity bridges, withoutcausing a significant vertical curve in the hair extensions, theconnectivity bridges could be placed even with or well behind position27C where the hair hopper is wide and hasn't narrowed yet. In such aconfiguration, the hair extensions are free to bend more to the sidesthan if they were forced to bend over a connectivity bridge placed evenwith position 27D where the hair extension hopper's passageways narrow.

Possibly, all connectivity bridges could be placed behind the rearmosthair extensions and the straightening pegs 28A, in FIG. 28, of the hairextension clips. This would mean that the hair extension tips wouldnever have to bend over a connectivity bridge. Also, this would meanthat the straightening peg could continue all the way down to the floorof the hair extension channel (tip trench). This would give furthersupport from all sides for even very curly hair extension tips. Thedisadvantage to this design is that all tines whether those of themoving hair handlers, or some part of the stationary guide channels,must be made longer. This increase in length will make them lessstructurally stable.

In configurations where the straightening peg starts behind theconnectivity bridges, at least it could be brought down as close to themas it needs to be. Fortunately, the straightening peg only has to keepthe hair extensions rigid down through the thickness of the hairhandlers because the pincher will pull the lower portions of the hairextensions into alignment.

****Hair Extension Tip Flexibility

When a hair extension is bent over a connectivity bridge, the slope ofits bend angle is largely set by the bottom of the straightening peg. Ifthe straightening peg comes down close enough to the top connectivitybridge, the slope of the bend angle can be almost a right angle. If thestraightening peg comes less close to the top connectivity bridge, theslope of the bend angle will be less sharp. The sharper the hair's bendangle, the more spring force in it and the faster the hair will flingover the far edge of the topmost connectivity bridge.

Air currents could be used to straighten hair extension tips that arenot being held in an adequately stiff manner by the hair extensiondispensing system. For example, air blown straight down into theattachment area from nozzles above said area could straighten hairextensions tips. An excellent place to put such nozzles would be in theinterior and underside of the hair hopper's channel obstructions. Suchnozzles could be fed with air by a hollow tined-manifold.

The length of the tines from where their connectivity bridges end towhere their functional areas begin should, generally, at least be equalto the depth in the attachment stack from the top connectivity bridgethat hair extension must pass over down to the desired depth of the hairextension tip. This will allow hairs to fully straighten out in the hairextension tip trench 3C, in FIG. 3, before coming in contact with anyfunctional areas of the hair handlers.

Previously, I said that the sides of the clips serve much the samefunction as the sides of a crimp on a paintbrush. Further still, thenarrowed sides of the hair hopper also aid this function, and they helpat lower levels closer to the hair handlers. The tips of the held-hairextensions extend down into a passage with vertically parallel walls 27Fon two sides, as shown in FIG. 27, and a third obstructing wall 27G atthe front. This third obstructing wall, which is part of the channelobstruction, is placed generally above the attachment area. It preventsthe hair extensions from advancing too far forward past the attachmentarea. Of course, its exact placement depends on empirical calibration,and we may want the hair extension top to advance a little past theattachment area.

The hair extensions are usually held at a short enough distance fromtheir tips so that their tips extend down in a relatively stiff manner.These tips are inserted downward into a cavity carved into theattachment stack. This cavity is known as the tip trench. This cavityand the tips of the hair extensions inserted into it extend at leastdown to the depth of those hair handlers responsible for hair isolation.

Because of the above-described factors, the hair extensions in each clipwill be move with it as a bunch to the functional areas of the hairhandlers. The hair extensions will be moved forward along a line largelyperpendicular to the sides of their erect tips. The clips must pinch thehair extensions with enough force that they do not fall out duringmovement and do not fall out as their previously attached neighborsslide by them, as said neighbors are pulled from the clip.

***NON-CLIP-BASED Hair Extension Feed***

****Substitute Conveyor Belts for Clips

-The Parallel Pinch AND Convey to Attacher(Conveyor Belt Feed)

A non-clip based system that holds and moves hair extensions by usinglargely parallel pinching surfaces can be configured. It could best bedescribed as a rotary conveyor system that pinches between opposingparts. Although two rotating opposing solid objects, such as two disks,fall under this definition and could be used, most likely it would takethe configuration of two opposing conveyor belts which pinch hairextensions together between each other and whose interior belt portionsboth move in the same linear direction. Said belts can be visualized asusing the two opposing belt surfaces to substitute for the two opposingsurfaces of the hair extension clips previously described. However,while the hair extensions in the clips move with the clips. in aconveyor system they could be said to move through the system as a wholeto a larger extent than they move with it. As with the clip-fed system,the hair extensions most likely move in a line largely perpendicular totheir shafts.

The conveyor belt system itself must be fed with hair extensions, andthis can be done in any of the following ways:

-   -   -Hair holding clips either distant or on the handle unit itself        could be the source. Distant means that they are not on the        handle unit but somewhere such as the base unit. If the source        hair extension holding clips are on the handle unit itself, the        pinching conveyor system will be positioned on the handle unit        between said clips and the attachment area where it brings the        hair extensions.    -   -A hair extension remover system that cut scalp hairs off the        scalp hair or removes hair extensions, as previously described.    -   -A spool system that unwinds to feed the conveyor belt. This        spool will either have to be wound with hair extensions already        cut to length, or allied with a cutting means that cuts them        during unwinding.    -   -A pile of free hair extensions lying largely parallel to each        other in a container such as a box. A funneling hopper type        means might be used to initially guide hairs from this pile into        the conveyor system.        ****The Parallel Pinch AND Convey Hair Extensions Using a        Thread-the-Eye-of-the-Needle Type Design:

Another means of dispensing hair extensions involves unwinding them froma spool, therefrom, threading them, perhaps, directly into theattachment areas in which they are needed. There are two basic ways tounwind hair extensions from a spool:

Referring to FIG. 105, the first way 105A is to surround the spool witha path guide means 105B that will only allow hair extensions 105Cunwound from the spool to extend only along the path bounded by saidpath guide means. Such a system could externally supply a rotationalforce to the source spool 105D causing it to rotate in the directionthat causes hair extensions on the spool to unwind. The hair extensionswould be guided by the path guide means to their functional target area105E. Often, such a functional target area is an attachment chamber.

The second way 105F, in FIG. 105.1, is to feed the hair extensions onthe spool into a powered rotating or reciprocating engagement-conveyancemeans 105G that pulls on them causing them to unwind from their sourcespool. (Engagement most likely by pinching but other means such ashooking are possible.) This rotating or reciprocating pinching means maymove hair extensions largely tangent or parallel to its rotating orreciprocating surface. After the hair extension tips exit saidengagement-conveyance means 105G, they can be directed either to apath-guide means 105H that guides them to insertion in their functionaltarget area 105E or without a path-guide means directly into theirfunctional target area 105E in which they will be inserted. A path-guide105H is used when the conveyance means is not close enough to itsfunctional target area to guarantee that hair extensions will beinserted in to it. This type of system usually will need a hairextension cutting means placed between the engagement-conveyance meansand the functional target area. This way, the hair extensions coming offthe spool will be cut to the desired length.

Of course, a hybrid 105J, shown in FIG. 105.2, of the above twounwinding systems can be configured. It may contain any or all of theabove-described components working in combination. For example, it maycontain a spool that is externally supplied with a rotational force inthe direction that causes hair extensions on said spool to unwind. Itmay contain a path-guide means 105K that directs hair extensions into arotating or reciprocating engagement-conveyance means; it may alsocontain a second path guide means 105L which guides hair extensions froma pinching conveyance means into a functional target area. If need be,it may contain a hair extension cutting means. This cutting means needNOT necessarily be placed between the pinching conveyance means and thefunctional target area.

Different Types of Functional Target Areas

The functional-target area described above can be any one of, but notlimited to, the following areas:

-   -   -Any area along the hair extension supply channel or pathway        that feeds the attachment chambers. This includes but is not        limited to the following. . .        -   -Into the areas of the hair extension channel that precede            the metering areas.        -   -Into metering areas        -   -Into holding areas (They will be described later.)        -   -Into attachment areas or attachment chambers        -   -Any other area that needs hair extensions fed into it            Different Types of Rotating or Reciprocating Hair Extension            Conveyance Means

The rotating or reciprocating hair extension engagement-conveyance meansdescribed above can take on several configurations including but notlimit to:

-   -   1. Rotating belts or cylinders that themselves press against        other rotating belts, cylinders, or static surfaces in order to        both pinch and move hair extensions between.    -   2. A part that pinches hair extensions (in the manner described        above) and moves along a largely a straight line. Then, it        releases its pinch, retracts backwards. It repeats this process        again by re-establishing its pinch and moving forward again.    -   3. A rotating hair extension grasping conveyance means that has        pinching and releasing members mounted on a rotating cylinder or        belt. It is similar mechanism to that is used by a commercial        hair removal product called the Braun Silk-Epil.    -   4. As in #3, except the rotating surface does not engage by        pinching but some other hair fiber engagement means such as a        surface coated with a sticky substance, an attractive static        electrical charge on its surface, or having small hooks or        similar hair engagement features on its surface.        Different Ways of Spooling Hair Extensions

The hair extensions can be spooled in several different configurationsincluding but not limited to:

-   -   1. One single long continuous hair fiber per spool that needs to        be cut to length after it is unspooled.    -   2. Many long continuous hair fibers in parallel per spool. They        are unspooled together, and each needs to be cut to length after        unspooling.    -   3. The hair extensions have already been cut to length before        being spooled. When unspooled, they usually will not need to be        cut to length.        Hair Extension Wefts can be Unspooled and Attached

In addition to the entirely linear hair extensions described above, hairextension wefts can also be unspooled and attached to the head. Hairextension wefts are of multiple hair extensions connected together witha largely perpendicular (to their lengths) member, which is usuallyflexible and may be a fiber itself. Unspooling of hair extension weftscan be accomplished in much the same manner as hair extensions.Unspooled hair extension wefts can be applied in the following manner:

-   -   1. Adhesive may be applied to the lower portions of the hair        extension wefts, most likely the unifying portions (those        perpendicular to the hair extensions) of the hair extension        wefts. This can be done anytime after unspooling. The adhesive        can be applied directly to the weft before it touches the scalp        or head hairs. Alternatively, it can be applied to the scalp or        head hairs directly. The hair extension wefts can be attached        directly to the scalp or to the sides of head hairs.    -   2. Hair extension attachment can be can be achieved by running a        thread or fiber back and forth through both the lower portions        of the hair extension weft and lower portions of the scalp        hairs, thereby, sewing the hair extension weft to the lower        portions of natural scalp hairs. In this configuration, the        thread or fiber itself could be unwound from a spool, perhaps        the same spool, as the hair extension weft that it will attach.        (Such an oscillating stitch pattern is likely based on a        mechanism functionally equivalent to a sewing machine.)    -   3. Once the first portion of a weft is attached to the head, the        remaining portions can be unspooled simply by the tension that        results in the weft as the system is moved over the scalp.        Hair Extension Weft Placement Among Natural Scalp Hairs

However they are attached, hair extension wefts have to be guided intoareas where the natural scalp hairs have been moved aside. To accomplishthis spooled hair extension wefts 105M, in 105.3, are unspooled intorecessed attachment areas 105N from where hairs have been displaced, bythe attachment stack tines 1050. Where said unspooled hair extensionweft tips are led towards the recessed attachment areas by one or moreof, but not limited to, the following methods:

-   -   -Hair weft assembly stiffness and an externally applied        rotational force on the spool.    -   -Linear movement of the entire spool assembly towards attachment        area.    -   -Rotational movement of the spool where the front tips of the        hair extension wefts are guided into the recessed attachment        area by path-guides.    -   -The leading portion of a weft is attached to the head, and the        remaining portions are unspooled simply by the tension that        results in the weft as the system is moved over the scalp.    -   -The spooled hair is first grasped by a pinching means that        moves it to the attachment area. Subsequent unspooling is        achieved because the hair extension . . .        -   . . . has been attached causing the spool unwind to relieve            tension of the extension as the device is moved over the            scalp        -   . . . is subject to a cycle of repeated or continuous            engagement and advancement towards the attachment area, such            as by the engagement conveyance system described above.

Note: Although unspooling is the preferred method for dispensing hairextension wefts among natural scalp hairs, the above method fordispensing hair wefts through a recessed area in the attachment stack'stines can be adapted for use with other hair extension dispensing means.For example, such wefts could be held by clips or any other of thenon-weft hair extension dispensing means discussed could be adapted.Also, note that the recessed attachment areas described for wefts arenot identical to the attachment areas described in the originalembodiment. When we speak of attachment areas, not in reference towefts, we typically will mean a type more like that described for theoriginal embodiment. Further, these recessed areas 105N in FIG. 105.3needn't be open to the hair channels, rather they could be holes throughthe tines that are entirely closed on all sides. Finally, longhair weftsneedn't be the only type of hair extensions attached to the scalp orscalp hairs through a recessed area like 105N, unified bunches of hairextensions could also.

****Unified Hair Extension Bunch Dispensing System:

Referring to FIG. 106, a unified hair extension bunch dispensing systemwhere bunches of hair extensions 41E have their tips unified together,usually by a unifying object 106A such as by an anchor/bead/disk that,might already or may at sometime, have adhesive applied to its surfaceand will be attached either to the scalp and/or scalp hairs:

1. Where before dispensing the unifying objects are held in aninterlocking rail/frame/bracket configuration, as shown by “Pure RailInterlock Type Clip” in FIGS. 106.1 (front view of clip) and 106.2 (sideview of clip).

-   -   --Where said unifying objects are slid down the rail 106C, and        the rail itself remains still. This could be facilitated by a        spring means 106B pushing directly on the unifying anchor beads        themselves.    -   --Alternatively, where the entire rail assembly moves forward to        advance a new unified bunch towards the attachment area. This        could be facilitated by a spring means pushing on the rail        assembly rather than the anchor beads directly.

2. Where the hair extension portions are pinched and the unifying anchorbead portions are held in or against a rail assembly, as shown by “Pinchand Slide Along Rail-Type Clip” in FIGS. 106.3 (front view of clip) and106.4 (side view of clip).

-   -   --Where said unifying objects are slid down the rail 106C, and        the rail itself remains still. This could be facilitated by a        spring means pushing directly on the unifying anchor beads        themselves.    -   --Alternatively, where the entire rail assembly moves forward to        advance a new unified bunch towards the attachment area. This        could be facilitated by spring means pushing on the rail        assembly rather than the anchor beads directly.

3. Where the hair extension bunches are pinched but no rail or bracketis used to directly stabilize the unifying anchor beads. In other words,the hair extensions bunches are held in hair extension clips, asdescribed in the original embodiment. The unifying anchor portions ifany do not secure said hair extensions in said clips. However, unifyinganchor portions would likely be used to either help isolate a limitedbunch of hair extensions, so the attachment system doesn't have to, orto attach said bunch to the scalp. For example, each unifying anchorportion could facilitate the attachment of a bunch of hair extensionsdirectly to a bald scalp. Perhaps, the bottom of said bead could evenhave a sticky adhesive pre-applied to it. Likewise, each unifying anchorcould attach itself and, thereby, its bunch of hairs to the sides ofnatural scalp hairs.

Note: Of course, whenever hair extensions have pellet-like anchors attheir bases, the loading system very likely will manipulate thesepellet-like anchors directly in preference to the fibrous portions. Themanipulations could use the familiar hair handler mechanisms, however,scaled up to deal with pellet-like structures rather than the thinnerhair fibers. Also, regardless of how bunches of hair extensions areattached together said bunches might be attached directly to the scalp.For example, hair extensions might be held into bunches by adhesives orbeing melded together, such as by heat or chemicals.

***Safeguards Against Deviant Processes***

****Means of Handling Deviant Hairs

To Prevent Unmetered Hairs from Entering the Attachment Area:

Extremely short scalp hairs can cause several problems. The main problemthat said short hairs might cause is that they are too short to bemanipulated accurately by the hair handlers. In such a case, an overlyshort scalp hair might pass under the entrance gates into an attachmentchamber with another scalp hair. As such, two scalp hairs mightundesirably get attached together. A second problem with overly shortscalp hairs is that they might not be long enough to securely attachhair extensions to. Finally, in sophisticated embodiments of thisinvention where sensors are used, short hairs might be long enough totrigger a sensor but too short to be reliably kept straight by the hairstraightening system and, as such, might not successfully be attached tohair extensions. In other words, the hair sensor system would be trickedinto telling the computer to behave as if it were dealing with a viablescalp hair when it really was not.

To avoid these problems with overly short scalp hairs, it is best tomake sure that such hairs lie relatively flat against the scalp. To acertain extent, short hairs might not be effectively held by the hairstraightener and will fall to the scalp on their own. However, alloverly short hairs will not do this. For this reason, we have to takeaction to make them lay flat against the scalp. There are at least twoways to do this. One way is to use air currents that force all scalphairs that are too short to be held by the tensioning hair straightenertowards the scalp. A second way is to trigger the hair handlers in sucha manner that they will push down any hair that may have entered theattachment area in an unauthorized manner.

There are several ways to use air currents to force overly short scalphairs to lie flat. Positive pressure air currents can be directeddownward through the vertical thickness of the attachment area such asto flatten short stray hairs in or near the attachment area. Thesedownward positive pressure air currents might be supplied from nozzlesthat point largely straight down over the attachment area. Using ahollow hair hopper channel obstruction with an air output on itsunderside is an excellent way to mount air outputs for such a downwardpointing airflow. Alternatively, positive pressure nozzles can bepositioned on a vertical wall in the attachment area, in a similarmanner that the adhesive outputs are. Such nozzles will probably notgenerate an exclusively downward airflow. Instead, the airflow willcreate a positive pressure environment in the attachment area withairflow exploding out in all directions. This positive pressure willtend to push stray scalp hairs away from that attachment area causingthem to lie down against the scalp.

Directing airflow largely parallel and along the bottom of theattachment stack will also usually cause stray hairs to lie down. Thisairflow can be generated using blown positive pressure air or suckednegative pressure air. The air outputs, or intakes, can be placed mostanywhere below the attachment stack. A highly suitable location would bemolding air outputs, or intakes, into the portions of the belt bucklethat hang below the attachment stack. Most ideally, such positivepressure outputs could be placed vertically between the bottom theattachment stack and the bend-under system, assuming the kind ofbend-under system that hangs below the attachment stack is used.Alternatively, the air outputs could also be placed below and to thesides of the attachment stack.

A great advantage of using airflow is that it can be directed or itsintensity increased so that not only are loose hairs made to lie down inthe attachment area but also the areas that precede the attachment stackwhere sensors might be used. This will help prevent sensors from beingtriggered by inviable overly short scalp hairs.

Earlier, I mentioned that hair handlers could be used to make overlyshort scalp hairs lie down. To do this, certain hair handlers thatoverlie the attachment area are triggered at the last possible momentbefore the authorized scalp hairs are brought in. This will clear theattachment area of short hairs that may have slipped under thehigher-lying hair isolation system and entrance gates. An ideal hairhandler to use for this would be a dedicated attachment area pushoutactuator, or a part that is functionally equivalent. Ideally, the hairhandlers used for this purpose should be placed as close to the scalp aspossible. This is because hair handlers at higher levels might actuallybe too high to even come in contact with certain short scalp hairs letalone flatten them. As such, pushout-actuator type hair handlers should,ideally, be placed below most of the attachment nozzles and perhapsbelow the entire attachment stack. Possibly, the pullback hook couldhelp clear the attachment area of short scalp hairs. One part that hastwo-axis motion that can act both as an attachment-area-pushout actuatorand pullback in one might be ideal for this purpose. If any type ofpullback hook is used for this purpose, it should be placed as close tothe scalp as possible.

Dealing with Hair Extensions that do not Get Attached to Scalp Hairs:

Hair extensions brought into the attachment area may not always getattached to scalp hairs. This may happen because a corresponding scalphair is not present to be attached or some type of adhesive malfunction.When it does happen, any unattached hair extensions will tend to remainin the attachment area. They will not be pulled away by the pullbackhooks and bend-under system the same way hair extensions attached toscalp hairs are. This presents the problem of what do to with theremaining unattached hair extensions. If nothing is done, they will getin the way and if enough of them are allowed to accumulate they mightjam the system. Clearly, these hair extensions should somehow be removedfrom the attachment area.

Recycling Unattached Hair Extensions

One way to remove the hair extensions would be in a manner that allowsthem to be recycled. One possibility for recycling them would be to openthe hair extension entrance gate closest to the attachment area and anyother gates between said entrance gate and the hair extension pushbackgate. The pushback gate (gate farthest away from attachment area) itselfshould remain closed. Some type of hair handler that is capable offorcing the hair extensions backward behind the entrance gate should beemployed. Next, the entrance gate closest to the attachment area shouldbe closed. This would put the unused hair extensions between thepushback gate and the entrance gate nearest the attachment area. Next,the pushback gate (gate farthest away from attachment area) should beopened. Once again, the hair extensions should be forced backwardsbehind the pushback gate. The pushback gate should be closed and thehair extension have now been successfully recycled, because they are putback with the bunch that they originally came from and are ready to bemetered out again.

However, the recycling approach described above has a coupledisadvantages. First, it takes hair extensions that may be coated withadhesive out of the attachment area and puts them in contact again withother hair extensions and the hair handlers. This might cause adhesiveto get in an undesirable location, or the hair handlers simply might notprocess adhesive coated hairs effectively causing them to jam thesystem. A second disadvantage is that this approach makes it impossibleto meter out a new group of hair extensions while the group ahead ofthem is being attached. For these reasons, a hair extension recyclingapproach that does not require the hair extensions to leave theattachment area is preferable.

The steps below describe one such hair extension recycling approach:

1. Use the pushout actuator to push attached hairs out of the attachmentarea. Although placed relatively close to the scalp, the pushoutactuator should be placed far enough above the scalp that it effectivelymoves the hair extension tips.

2. Move the slide out preventer out over the attachment area.

3. Trigger the pullback hook. It will pull the scalp hairs and attachedhair extensions backwards, but not the unattached hair extensions.Instead, the unattached hair extension tips will flexibly yield to theunder-passing pullback hook, as such, remaining to the right of thepushout actuator near the attachment area. To facilitate this, thepullback hook should be placed close to the scalp; probably below eventhe adhesive nozzle stack.

4. As an optional step: Move a hair extension distributor (like thepincher except it is notchless and only a single-level thick. It onlymoves to the left about as far as the right edge of the slide-outpreventer. It may be mounted on a flexibly jointed tine to make suredoes it does not go too far past said slide out preventer edge.) Itsactions will distribute hair extensions evenly along the right edge ofthe slide-out preventer.

5. Make the hair extension transport-forward gate carry the next groupof hair extensions into their positions in the attachment area.

6. Trigger the pincher's movement towards the left wall. This will, asevenly as possible, fill the pinchers notches with the recycled hairextensions. (Evenly because the recycled hair extensions have beenpressed up evenly along the right edge of the slide out preventer.)

7. Before the pincher has completely reached the left wall, when itsfront is largely even with the right edge of the slide out preventer,make the slide out preventer retract. This will allow the recycled hairextension to join the new group of unattached hair extensions, inindividual notches of the pincher.

8. Close the slide out preventer over the attachment area notches onceagain.

9. Retract the pincher to the right, away from the hair extensions. Thehair extensions will remain divided in notches because the hairextension transport forward gate has remained in the attachment area,and the slide out preventer guarantees that they will stay in the hairextension transport forward gate's notches.

10. Make the scalp hair transport forward gate carry the next group ofscalp hairs into the attachment area.

11. Make the pincher move towards the left.

12. After the pincher has made it partially under the slide outpreventer, but usually before the pincher makes it all the way to theleft, retract the slide out preventer. Scalp hairs have now joined thenew and recycled hair extensions in individual pincher notches, alsoknow as attachment chambers when pressed up against the left wall. Theattachment process may now occur. If all goes well, all the unattachedrecycled and new hair extensions will be attached to scalp hairs thistime.

13. Optional: In order to buffer an excess of unattached hairextensions, the hair extension transport-forward gate could beconfigured with extra notches directly behind, or in front of, thosethat match up with attachment chambers. These extra notches would not befilled with new hair extension, nor would they match up with theunderlying nozzle stack in order to form attachment chambers. The solepurpose of these extra notches is to provide a temporary space forexcess unattached hair extension in case an unusually large number failto attach in a given time period. Thus, their reuse can be spread outover several attachment cycles instead of jamming the attachmentchambers on a single cycle.

In order to make sure the unattached hair extensions participate in theabove process, we should make sure they enter the notches of the hairextension transport-forward gate. As shown in FIG. 107, this can beachieved by having some structure like a portion of the channel wall oranother hair handler overhanging, or underlying, the front and backsub-tines 107A and 107B, respectively, of said hair extensiontransport-forward gate. This is to make sure the unattached hairextensions only have access to the notches of the transport-forwardgate, and they cannot get positioned in front or back of it. Referringto FIG. 107, this overhanging, or underlying, structure 107C is shown inhatching.

On a similar note, it is advisable to allow the pullback hook gate, orsome other portion of the system, to completely overhang, or underlie,the pincher notches in their recessed positions to right in order toprevent entry of exiting hairs into said notches. If exiting hairs wereallowed to reside in the recessed pincher notches while the pullbackhook gate is moving backwards, they could cause a jam.

Disposing of Unattached Hair Extensions

There are some situations and embodiments of this invention where itwould be more desirable to dispose of, rather than recycle, unattachedhair extensions. This is especially true in embodiments that allowadhesive to progressively build up on unattached hair extensions. Insuch cases, so much adhesive might build up on a hair extension tip thatit results in hair extensions getting jammed in the pincher notches, orelsewhere in the system.

To facilitate disposal of such adhesive-build-up-tipped hair extensions,some part needs to pull them from the system. The best way for such apart do this is to hook them in their narrower areas above whereadhesive is building up on their tips. As said hooking part moves thehair extensions will slide through it until the hooking means encountersthe bead of thickened adhesive near each tip. This will cause each suchhair extension to be pulled from its holding clip and moved towardsdisposal in the bend-under system.

The most suitable part to participate as a hooking means is the pullbackhook. However, the pullback hook should be configured somewhatdifferently than previously described. First of all, the pullback hookshould be placed above, not below, the adhesive application nozzles.Additionally, the interior notch-width of said pullback hook should berelatively narrow. It will likely be narrower than the notches of thepincher. This way hair extensions are pulled from the system before thebuild up on their tips gets wide enough to jam the pincher's notches. Ifit is undesirable for the pullback hook to have only a single narrownotch, one wider notch could be divided into a few narrow notches byplacing tines in the pullback hook's interior width parallel to itslength and axis of movement. In summary, the narrowness of the pullbackhook's interior notch or notches prevent the hair extension tips fromflexibly yielding overtop of it.

In order for the pullback hook to feed the bend-under system with hairextensions, it must bring said hair extensions in contact with thebend-under belt system. Usually, this process is facilitated by the hairextensions being attached to scalp hairs, which help pull the hairextensions, attached to them into the bend-under system. However, whendealing with unattached hair extensions, the hair extensions must be feddirectly into the bend-under system. One solution to facilitate this isto place the bend-under system not below the attachment stack levels,but within the attachment stack at about the same level as theattachment nozzles. Unfortunately, this is not a very attractivesolution because it presents the problem of routing the supply linesthat feed the nozzle stack around the bend-under belt system.

A more attractive solution would be to configure the pullback hooksystem so that it pulls to a point behind the engagement point of thebend-under belt system, and then moves itself and the hairs within itback again over said engagement point. This process would allowunattached hair extensions to be pulled far enough from their clips thatslack is generated in said hair extensions. This slack would allow thehair extensions to dangle vertically beneath the bottom of theattachment stack at which point they could be engaged by the bend-underbelt system.

However, this system would function most ideally if the pullback hookswere given a slightly different design. In said design, the pullbackhooks should be configured in a shape almost identical to the scalp hairtransport-forward gates, where notches of said pullback hook are open tothe left-hand side, as those of the scalp-hair-transport-forward gatesand pincher are in the original embodiment. Said notches will likely besomewhat thinner than the notches of the pincher. Such a pullback hookmight be given multi-axis movement, so it could move towards the leftover the notches of the push-out actuator in front of the exit channel,thereby, placing the exiting hairs in its notches. Next, it would haveto move straight back with the familiar path of movement for thepullback hook, specifically, a path that is parallel to the exit channeland towards its back. Third, after moving past the front of thebend-under system, it would have to backtrack a short distance, thereby,coming in front of the bend-under belt system. Finally, it might moveoff to the right so that it no longer overhangs the exit channel. Thisfinal movement would cause it to completely get out of the way of theslackened hair extensions allowing them to fully drop into or in frontof the bend-under system. Of course, before the cycle could repeat, thisspecial pullback hook would have to move straightforward, preferably,while remaining completely to the right side of the exit channel and notoverhanging it at all.

Use Sensors to Prevent Unpaired Hair Extensions

Of course, the best way to deal with hair extensions becoming unpairedwith scalp hairs is not allow the situation to occur in the first place.This can be achieved by using a system that senses when a scalp hair ispresent in a metering area, and doesn't allow hair extensions to enteran attachment chamber unpaired.

****Means of Handling Deviant Adhesive Application

Liquid adhesive is often used as a means of hair attachment. In manyembodiments, this liquid adhesive will not have time to solidify beforeexiting the system. Certain efforts will be made to keep this liquidadhesive from getting on the parts in the attachment stack. Most ofthese efforts occur in the attachment chamber and they include, but arenot limited to, using a vacuum to suck away any excess adhesive, using asolvent wash to wash away any excess adhesive, and coating thehair-applied adhesive with a protective coating. The nature of theprotective coating can be temporary such as a coating of liquid hot wax(or functional-equivalent) that is cooled and hardens before everleaving the attachment chamber. In which case, the protected adhesive isgiven several minutes to cure, and then the protective coating isremoved by dissolving it off, for example with hot oil. Alternatively,the protective coating might be permanent. For example, small powderparticles be sprayed over the adhesive (such as by introducing anair-blown suspension through a left wall output). These small particleswould stick to the adhesive, but shield the adhesive from coming incontact with anything external to it. While some of the most effectiveadhesive control measures occur in the attachment chamber and are of asimilar nature to those just described, further measures could be takento prevent any adhesive from rubbing off of the hairs as they exit theattachment system. The following are two such measures:

1. In order to prevent stray adhesive from sticking to attachment stackchannels, Teflon coat (or functional-equivalent) not just the faces ofthe channels and hair handlers but also their vertical sides. This mayinclude the vertical sides of all of the lower channel walls.

2. Take care to prevent stray adhesive from sticking to the bend-underbelts. In addition to using Teflon belts (or functional-equivalent),make sure the belt grabs hairs above the adhesive level by making surethe pulley ribs hold the belt assembly sufficiently above the scalp,like stilts. Also or instead, continually run the belts through alubricant/solvent solution. The application of this solution could occurin the base unit or anywhere along the path of the belts, where areservoir, or other solution application means, could be brought intocontact with the belts.

[[Multi-Chamber/Cycle Systems]]

***Moving Hair Handler System Optimization***

****Division of the Pushback and Transport-Forward Functions

Previously, a multiple-pushback gate system comprised ofmultiple-pushback gates all on one part was presented. I will call thistype of pushback gate a compound-multiple-pushback gate because severalpushback gates are attached as one piece. Alternatively, the multiplepushback gate system can also have the multiple pushback gatesconfigured as separate objects, perhaps etched from separate sheets ofmetal. These independent pushback gates would function in an identicalmanner to the compound variety previously shown. Specifically, thosepushback gates closest to the attachment area would close first followedby the next closest. The gate closing would continue in this serialmanner until all the pushback gates had closed. This configuration ofseparate independent pushback gates will generally take up less widththan the one-part compound-pushback gates. This is because independentpushback gates do not have to be staggered width-wise as they do on acompound pushback gate.

Although possible, it would not be as easy to move independent pushbackgates forward as it is the compound variety. Thus, it is more difficultto use the independent pushback gates for the purpose of transportingthe isolated hairs to the attachment area than it is to use a singlecompound pushback gate. Consequently, a dedicated transport-forward gateshould be used, instead. Such a gate is very similar to a compoundmultiple pushback gate except that its notches can have blunt fronts andits gates need not be staggered. A drawing of such a dedicated transportforward gate 119A is shown in FIG. 119. Also, FIG. 108 shows a dedicatedtransport forward gate 108B with regular notches. The dedicatedtransport-forward gate can have this configuration because the hairshave already been isolated and cleared out of its way by the independentpushback gates. The dedicated transport-forward gate's notches and tinesline up with those of all of the independent pushback gates. Once hairsare chambered between the independent pushback gates, the dedicatedtransport forward gate first slides out over the width of the channel.Next, the independent pushback gates are retracted and the dedicatedtransport-forward gate moves forward carrying the isolated hairs in itsnotches. When it stops, its notches will be lined up with the adhesiveapplication nozzles.

When pushback gates are used in this manner, they can also be consideredto have a holding function. Consequently, they can also be consideredholding gates 119B, in FIG. 119. The area where they hold the hairs sothat the transport-forward gate can engage them will be referred to asthe holding area the holding is comprised of holding area notches 119C.

****Multi-System Simplification

Overlapping the Holding and Metering Areas is not Necessary

If something else, other than the pushback gates whose metering areascoincide with their holding areas, could isolate hairs and feed them oneat a time to the holding area, the holding gates could be configured asdedicated holding gates as opposed to holding gates that also act aspushback gates. Unlike pushback gates, dedicated holding gates could beplaced to coincide with the attachment area and its attachment chambers.This would mean that no transport-forward gates would be needed becausethe hairs would already be correctly position in the attachment area.Although this simplifies the design, it is less desirable because hairattaching and filling the holding area can't occur simultaneously. Thus,such a design would slow the system down. Thus, it is still optimal touse transport-forward gates.

Sloped Transport-Forward Gate Notches Prevent Hair-Slide Out

Referring to FIG. 108.1, the transport-forward gates could have slopednotches so that the hairs they carry, with forward movement in thedirection of arrow 108A, tend to get directed towards the backs of saidnotches. Consequently, the hairs being carried get hooked and stay inthe notches. This feature lessens the need for a slide out preventiongate. Pushback gates that serve the transport-forward function arethemselves a form of transport forward gate and could have slopednotches themselves. However, the slope of their notches is more likelyto be limited to only the most interior regions so that the more lateralregions can act as pushback gates in the manner of the originalembodiment.

Sloped Attachment Area Rear Wall Lessens Need for Pushout Actuator

In order to lessen the need for a pushout actuator or pullback hook,those areas of the hair extension pathway that lie in front of the hairextension channel could be sloped. Referring to FIG. 109, the lowestfloor level could be sloped in the manner, as shown by encircled area109A. Likewise, higher levels could be sloped in a similar manner, asshown in FIG. 109.1 by encircled area 109B. However, the pincher isprobably wider than a flat-fronted (attachment area) pushout actuator,anyway. Thus, channel width would not be further reduced by theelimination of the pushout actuator. Consequently, there is less need toslope the pathway in order to eliminate the pushout actuator.

Entrance Gate Overlap of the Attachment Area

Theoretically, it might possible for both the scalp side supply systemand the hair extension supply system to share the same entrance gate.This entrance gate might be continuous over the entire attachment area.Alternatively, it might be split into two projections with an open spacebetween them over the center of the attachment area. However, thissharing does limit options because it would require the scalp hairs andhair extensions to enter the attachment area at the exact same time.

Ideally, each entrance gate should overlap the attachment area nofarther than the interior edge of its closest bounding notch-tine of itsclosest transport-forward gate, when said transport-forward gate ispositioned at rest in the attachment area. Entrances gates should notoverlap any notches of the transport-forward gates because this wouldinterfere with their function. The advantage of an entrance gatesomewhat overlapping the attachment area is that it shortens thedistance a hair has to travel from the metering area to it correspondingattachment chamber. A short travel distance is desirable because hairextensions and scalp hairs that travel relatively short distances likelyremain relatively more perpendicular to the scalp than those that musttravel farther. Scalp hairs and hair extensions that remain moreperpendicular to the scalp remain more parallel to each other and assuch are easier to bring together for attachment. Note: By notch-tine, Imean one of the sub-tines that divide the transport-forward-gate notchesand, as such, help compose the functional areas of the transport-forwardgates which are positioned on the tips of the channel-level tines ofhair-handler tine-assemblies.

***Multi-Chamber Pincher Design***

****Pincher Chamber Design

The side walls of the pincher, (or each pincher notch), were previouslyshown to slant forward at the top at a constant angle as in FIG. 110.However, the pincher-notch sides and the left-wall surfaces that theyinterface with are not limited to this exact configuration. As shown inFIG. 110.1, where the side cross-section of a pincher-notch wall isshown in darker shading on the right and its interfacing left-wall sidecross-section is shown in lighter shading on the left, they might bothbe configured as vertical walls with no forward slant. In which case,the left wall itself could be entirely flat, however, more likely thecentral-attachment-chamber portions (usually where the nozzles are) ofit will project forward relative to lateral recessed notched areas wherethe sides of the of each pincher notch can impinge into, as shown inFIG. 16.2. These recessed notches may be present regardless of theside-cross-sectional shapes of the pincher-notch walls and portions ofthe left wall with which they interface. These recessed areas not onlyhelp provide a better seal but, also, likely contain much of thepincher-notch-wall-to-left-wall rubbing process used to guide waywardhair tips into place in the attachment-chamber interiors, as illustratedin FIGS. 18.0-18.2.

Alternative pincher-notch and left-wall side cross-sections are shown inFIGS. 110.3 and 110.4 where the pincher-notch walls slant forward butnot at a constant angle and the left wall is straight, but notcontinuous, instead, having largely horizontal notches recessed into it.Here, the pincher-notch walls are composed of alternating areas; somethat are angled forward others that are not. FIGS. 110 and 110.2 showother possible combinations of pincher-notch-wall and left-wall sidecross-sections. However, generally all of the above-referencedpincher-notch-wall and left-wall side cross-sections can be interchangedwith each other. That is various types of pinch-notch-walls with varioustype of left-walls. However, one should realize that potentialpincher-to-wall configurations are not limited to what is shown norpermutations of it. Further, note that the idea that one of the,so-called, left-wall half always on the left or even on a wall is nottrue. For example, the so-called left-wall structures could be deployedas the functional area on a second opposing pincher structure.

All of the above-referenced drawings represent a side view of how theforward-most portion of the left wall and the forward-most portion ofthe pincher-notch walls interface with each other when brought together.FIGS. 110.5 and 110.6 show possible top plan views of the pincher andleft wall cross-sections. As shown here, they are both the same widths.However, this would generally only be the case if the two halves did notrub past each other, as they do in FIGS. 18.0-18.2. Thus, in practice,one of the two halves will likely be narrower than the other. However,this does not have to be the case. For example, the halves could beconfigured as cross-sections disposed at different levels, thus,allowing them to be exactly the same width.

It may be desirable for the pincher to have a funneling shape thatfurther helps direct hairs to its center and back. The funneling shapemay take cross-sectional configurations as shown in the top plan view inFIG. 110.6 of the pincher and left wall. However, this funneling shapelikely would not be extended down through the entire depth of thepincher. As shown before, the pincher notches may be hollowed out in themiddle so that the hairs are grasped at the bottom and top but aren'ttouched by the pincher in the middle. Thus, the funneling pinchercross-sections need only be present at the bottom and top where thehairs are grasped.

We have mentioned before that the pincher notches are likely to behollowed and wider in their middles to help enclose chambers formed whenpressed up against an opposing object such as the left wall. Namely, thetypes of chambers formed are hair attachment chambers. I will nowfurther elaborate on the features of these hair attachment chambers.

The narrowed bottom and top of each pincher notch (and/or left-wall orany opposing structure) not only grasps hairs but also forms a floor andceiling for each hair attachment chamber. Said floor and ceiling mayserve to help prevent any electromagnetic radiation or substances usedin the attachment process from escaping from the chambers. To this end,the top and bottom areas may be manufactured out of, or coated with,flexible materials that form a seal when pressed up against the opposingleft wall, or whatever opposes the pincher. The electro-magneticradiation prevented from escaping includes, but is not limited to,Ultra-Violet light used to cure adhesives, or infrared light used tofacilitate attachment in a CVD-based system. The substances beingprevented from escaping include, but are not limited to, adhesives orany other substance (including gases) used in the attachment process.

The interior of the pincher may contain a similar set of outputs asthose described for the left wall. This includes, but is not limited to,fluid and electro-magnetic outputs, such as optics for UV or I.R. Themajor difference would be that the pincher's fiber optics or fluid linesthat supply these outputs would bend down though a vertical dimensionbefore reaching their outputs in the interior of the pincher.

Additionally, the inside surface of the pincher may have a non-sticksurface so that it resists adhesive attachment. Also, the inside surfaceof the pincher may have a reflective surface so that any electromagneticradiation directed at the hair attachment point, by for example the leftwall outputs, that then goes past said hair attachment point will thenbe reflected back at the hair attachment point. Use of a reflectivesurface in this manner, will allow electromagnetic radiation catalyzedattachment to occur from all directions around each hair attachmentpoint. The above non-stick and reflective surfaces may be achievedthrough use of coatings or shells or by manufacturing the entire pincherinterior out of materials that have these qualities.

***Single Hair Isolation Systems***

In the previously described first embodiment, a hair or a limited numberof hairs were isolated in metering areas formed between entrance gatesand pushback gates. However, when dealing with hairs of variablediameter, it will be less likely that the types of pushback gates shownpreviously can reliably isolate only a single hair per metering area.Since reliably isolating a single hair per metering area is desirable,refinements need to be made that will allow this. Single hair isolationwill often occur in the metering area between the front-most entrancegate and rearmost pushback gate. However, often some other means needsto be introduced to subdivide the group of hairs in the metering area.

There a two broad approaches to the isolation of one hair. Bothapproaches share the forming of an isolation area, which at leastpartially isolates one or a very few hairs although maybe in a fleetingmanner. This isolation area is further subdivided such that only onehair remains and/or is allowed to escape from it. The Two Approachesare:

1. Use sensors to tell where certain hairs' diameters start and stop.Use extremely small independently controlled gates to act on what thesensors tell them to isolate one hair.

2. Use mechanical gates that progressively subdivide the isolation areapushing out but a single hair. Usually, this involves pushing largelybackwards all but the front-most single hair.

I will, first, describe some solely mechanical hair isolation schemesthat function without sensors. Generally, sensors could be introduced toenhances these mechanical schemes and make them run more predictably.However, they will likely do fine without sensors.

****Converging-Point Wedging

The first versions of mechanical hair isolation schemes I will discussfall into the category of what I call converging-point wedging.Generally, a narrowing or triangular shaped isolation area connected tothe hair channel will be used. Often, it will, at least in part, beformed by an entrance gate 118B, usually, the one responsible forallowing isolated hairs out of the single hair isolation system.Referring to FIG. 111, notice how a triangular shape 111A is formed by adiagonally sloping entrance gate edge 111B imposed on the hair channeledge 111C. Hairs in the channel are encouraged to press up into this,generally triangular shaped, converging area formed in the hair channel.The first hair to reach the apex point 111D, regardless of its width,will be in the most stable position in the isolation area. It will bemuch more difficult to get this front-most hair at apex point 111D tomove, than it will any of the hairs behind it. This is because thefront-most hair is surrounded on two sides by the firm immovable edgesthat make up the converging area. In contrast, all other hairs (at most)touch the immovable edges on only one side and on all other sides aresurrounded by other movable hairs. Once in the position 111D, anydisturbance (such as vibrating the hair channel, exposing the hairs inthe isolation area to a disturbing force such as air currents or staticelectricity, or forcing a mechanical object to run through the isolationarea) will preferentially move the trailing hairs, to a much greaterextent than the front -most hair. This property can be used to separatethe trailing hairs from the front-most hair at apex point 111D. However,to permanently separate the trailing hairs from the front-most hair, anobstruction means should be brought between the trailing hairs andfront-most hair, after they are separated. There are various types ofobstructions means that can be used to do this. Many of themsimultaneously function as forms of pushback gate means. Below followexamples of several types of such isolation area obstruction means:

Flexible Finger Type Isolation-Area Obstruction Means

As shown in FIG. 112 step one, one approach is to use flexiblefinger-like projections 112A as a supplementary pushback gate means.Supplementary because these finger-like projections can be consideredpushback gates themselves. These flexible finger-like projections aremoved towards the front tip 112C of the converging area largely along aline that bisects the converging area into two halves. During theirforward movement, as in FIGS. 112.1 step two and 112.2 step three, theymay even be vibrated so as to help push the unstable non-tip hairs. 112B(not at the apex of converging area) out of their way. As the fingersdisplace the unstable non-tip hairs 112B, they will move backwards awayfrom the front-most apex point. As these hairs are forced backwards, theflexible finger-like projections might yield to them, as such, allowingtheir backward movement. Because of their angle of movement, thefinger-like projections will tend to actually press the front-most hair112D into the apex, rather than dislodging it. The end result will bethat the finger-like projections in contact with the front-most hairwill have flexibly yielded to and conformed around this front-most hair112D, as shown in FIG. 112.3 step 4. Thus, this front-most hair 112Dwill have been isolated from the hairs behind it. Within limits, thisscheme works regardless of how wide the hairs are relative to eachother. Finally, notice how the finger-like projections that can make it,unobstructed by hairs, across the channel to its far side insert intonotches 112E. These optional notches stabilize the fingers so that theycan maintain their position and not allow any hairs around them fromeither direction. The flexible finger-like projections 112A could besupported on the tines of a tine assembly forming what could beconsidered a variable diameter hair isolator 112F.

Shaped-Finger Isolation-Area Obstruction Means

A refinement of the flexible finger-like projection pushback gate meansleads to another variant of the converging-point-wedging hair isolationsystem. This refinement is to use what I call tapered end springfingers. Rather than having spring fingers with blunt ends, as shownpreviously, the spring fingers could be configured to look and behave asshown in this series FIGS. 113 through 113.2, illustrating threesequential steps. Although shown at a different angle, this series ofthree drawings should be considered as having spring fingers 113A at theend of a hair handler tine and taking a path towards the apex 111D of aconverging isolation area, just as the spring fingers in FIGS. 112through 112.3 were. The tapered shape of the assembly 113C allows it towedge its way into the isolation area using less force to displace thehairs 41D in its path. This or any spring finger assembly constructedwith small-etched spring-like parts should usually be sandwiched betweentwo or lying across one firmer supporting layer. Such supporting layerswould have largely the same shape as the layer the fingers are formedinto. However, the support layers should usually be continuous surfaceswith no fingers etched into them. Although FIG. 113 shows the springfingers etched into a single layer, alternatively, each finger could beformed from a separate, independently moving tine layer. Further, theyielding spring means could be placed anywhere between thetine-connectivity bridge and the tip of each finger, not necessarily asclose to the hair-handler functional area as it has been shown up untilnow. This is true of all embodiments that need to get a hair handler tostop when obstructed by a sufficiently immovable hair 113D in its pathat the apex 111D.

Wedge-Shaped Isolation-Area Obstruction Means

Similar to the above pointed spring fingers is another refinement of theconverging-point-wedging type isolation means. In this refinement, thepointed displacement wedges are configured as several independent parts.In these drawings, the wedge shown moving, in a given step, is drawnsolid, and the currently still wedges are drawn as outlines. Referringto steps one and two in FIGS. 114 and 114.1 respectively; the narrowestleast intrusively shaped pointed wedge 114A is wedged into the isolationarea first. It displaces any moveable trailing (non-apex) hairs thatintersect its path but stops when it comes in contact with the highlystable front-most hair in the apex 114B. In FIGS. 114.2 through 114.4showing steps three through five sequentially, the first wedge moved isfollowed by increasingly wider more intrusive wedges that push the morelateral hairs backwards and out of the isolation area. Like the firstleast intrusive wedge, all following wedges stop when they come incontact with the highly stable hair in the apex. The following series ofwedges become increasingly more obtrusive by making them wider with moreobtuse edge angles, and by placing increasingly wider diameter arcs attheir front-most points. These arcs start convex and increase indiameter with each step and then become concave while continuing toincrease in diameter with each step. Concave arcs are used to squeezeaway any very small hairs trapped to the sides of a much largerfront-most hair.

Once the front-most hair is isolated, another channel obstruction gatelikely taking the form a more conventional pushback gate might be movedbetween said front-most hair and trailing hairs. This will keep anytrailing hairs behind the wedges from sneaking around said wedges whenthe entrance gate is opened. The use of another more conventionalpushback gate behind the wedges is optional. Additionally, aconventional pushback gate could be used to help clear a path for thewedges, so they would not have to go through as many hairs beforereaching the front apex of the isolation area. This could be done byusing a pushback entrance gate configuration as shown in FIG. 111.Finally, realize that the wedges are capable of yielding when they pressup against the front-most hair in the isolation area. This yielding beachieved by mounting the wedges on individual tines that are flexiblyattached to their connectivity bridges.

****Series of Sub-Hair-Diameter-Spaced Pushback Gates

The second type of mechanical hair isolation scheme I will discuss fallsinto the category of what I call sub-hair-diameter-spaced pushbackgates. This type of system has a metering area with a front edge thatneed not narrow to a tip, although it might. If the metering area doesnot narrow, then it should ideally be no wider than about twice thediameter of the smallest diameter hair that will go through it.

Sub-Hair-Diameter-Interval Spaced Pushback Gate System

Referring to FIGS. 115-115.2 showing sequential steps one through three,the first embodiment of this system uses a metering area that will alloweven the largest diameter hairs to touch its front-most edge. Thissystem uses a series of pushback gates spaced from each other atintervals of less than the diameter of the smallest hair. Ideally, thepushback gates are spaced at intervals of less than the 50% of thediameter of the smallest hair. These individual pushback gates flexiblyyield and stop when they come in contact with the front-most hair.However, if they cross the metering area at a point between hairs, theywill not stop but continue across the metering area so as to close itoff. Thus, the front-most hair is isolated from any hairs that follow itby the pushback gates between it and them. The greatest limitation ofthis system is that it can only be used with a very limited range ofhair diameters. Hairs of too great of a diameter might not even fit intothe metering area or if they do, might be pushed out the way they camein. This is because the pushback gates are only likely to stop if theyintersect with the rearmost 50% of a hair's diameter, so as to push thehair firmly into the entrance gate. If a hair is intersected by apushback gate in the front-most 50% of its diameter, it usually will bepushed backwards, thereby, obstructed from passing said pushback gate.Likewise, if the hairs have too small of a diameter, then more than onehair might get in front of the pushback gates. To solve these problemsand to allow isolation of a wide variety of hair diameters, a secondembodiment of the sub-hair-diameter spaced pushback gate system isdescribed below.

Sub-Hair-Diameter-Accuracy Spaced Pushback Gate System

This second embodiment of the sub-hair-diameter spaced pushback gatesystem uses a metering area composed of a series of attachedcompartments that become increasingly narrower, usually with increasingproximity to the attachment area. Referring to FIG. 116, this set ofcompartments 116A is usually formed by notches 116B in an entrance gate116C that is imposed on an edge of a hair channel 116D. Eachsub-compartment allows only hairs of an extremely specific diameterrange in it. For example, a hair of an extremely thin diameter will notstop moving forward through the compartments until it reaches theentrance to a sub-compartment too thin for it, or the dead-end of thevery thinnest sub-compartment. In a similar manner, a relatively widediameter hair will stop much sooner in one of the wider compartments. Ifthere are any thinner diameter hairs trailing a wider diameter hair,they will be stuck behind it and this is fine.

Once we have hairs of a specified diameter range in the correct meteringarea sub-compartments, we can use a series of special pushback gatespositioned with sub-hair-diameter-ACCURACY to isolate the front-mosthair (the one closest to the processing area) in the metering area fromall of those behind it (those farther from the processing area). Notice,I said positioned with sub-hair-diameter ACCURACY, not necessarilyspaced at sub-hair-diameter INTERVALS, as in the embodiment describedimmediately above. Because the graduated chambers hold hairs ofdifferent diameters apart from each other, there is no need to space theisolation gates at the small sub-hair-diameter intervals needed in theINTERVAL-spaced system to separate two hairs of greatly differingdiameter.

The pushback isolation gates take on the configuration and manner ofoperation shown sequentially in FIGS. 116.11-116.19. FIGS. 116.11-116.16represent the first six sequential steps of various pushback gatesmoving over the channel and closing around hairs in the metering area.In the first two steps shown by FIGS. 116.11 and 116.12, the gates makeit all the way across the channel unobstructed. When this happens, anotched area, like 116E in FIG. 116.2, remains over the channels.Although the front hair 1160 may be temporarily pushed backwards and outof the way, as in step 1.5 shown by FIG. 116.115, it will again moveinto the front-most area of its original compartment, as in step 2 shownby FIG. 116.12, after the involved pushback-isolation gate makes it allthe way across the metering area. Of course, to make sure this happens,the sub-compartments should be sufficiently long so that the hairs arejust pushed backwards but not completely out of said sub-compartments.However, in step 3 shown by FIG. 116.13, a hair at position 116F isencountered by a hook means on the side of a pushback isolation gate.Said hair obstructs said gate from making it all the way across thechannel. When this happens, the notched area 116E does not make it overthe channel. Thus, the front-most area (the area closest to theprocessing area) of the adjacent trailing sub-compartment 116L(sub-compartment farther from the processing area than the leadinghair's sub-compartment) remains covered by the pushback-isolation gate.This keeps any other hairs in said trailing sub-compartment towards itsentrance area (area of the sub-compartment farthest from the processingarea) where they can't be protected from the subsequent pushback-gateportion 116H as they would in the front-most area of saidsub-compartment. Thus, in step 4 shown by FIG. 116.14, when the nextpushback gate swipes over the entrance area of said sub-compartment116L, it forces all hairs in it out. The final result is saidsub-compartment is entirely empty of hairs. In other words, hairs insub-compartment 116L have been pushed backwards and out of the path ofthe hook means 116G and into the path of the pushback-gate portion ofthe following pushback-isolation gate actuated in step 5 shown by FIG.116.15. Since all following isolation gates (those that have yet tomove) will be held up by their own hook means by the front-most hair atpoint 116F, their notch areas like 116E will NOT be brought over thechannels. This will cause all subsequent hairs in the compartments ofthe metering area to be forced backwards (away from the processing area)and entirely out of the metering area and its compartments in likemanner. In step 6 shown by FIG. 116.16, a final more conventionalpushback gate 116I which has no need for a hook means like 116G or anotch like 116E is moved over the channel.

In steps 7-11 shown by FIGS. 116.17-116.19, we see that the isolationgates are moved backwards in order to open the metering area. Noticethat all hairs, except one, have been forced out of the metering area.Pushback gate 116I remains over the channel closing the metering areaoff. The isolation gates are moved away from the metering area startingwith the second from last pushback gate 116J and proceeding in thereverse order that they originally moved over the channels. Notice thatthe second from last pushback gate 116J has an optional sloped edge 116Kon the right side of its notch that will allow it to push any hairbetween it and the last pushback gate 116I out of its way towards thelast pushback gate 116I, as in optional step 7X shown by 116.17X.Optional step 7X shows what happens if the front-most hair is in thewidest sub-chamber. Notice the last pushback gate 116I has an optionalconcave area 116M in it that allows it to accept said hair in widestsub-chamber. This concave area is optional depending on how the finalpushback gate is spaced relative the more forward pushback gates. Inpractice, all of the notched-push back gates may or may not have slopedor tapered right edges but one was just shown in 116J for illustrativepurposes.

Notice in FIG. 116.2 that a variant embodiment of one of these isolationgates is shown. It shows that these gates can have straight edges like116N rather than semi-circular notches intersecting with hairs as a hookmeans.

Note: The above refers to a metering area composed of a series ofattached compartments that become increasingly narrower. Such a meteringor isolation area need not be composed of sub-compartments but couldsimply be a single area that becomes increasingly narrower, most likely,with increasing proximity to the processing/attachment area. Also, thenarrowing metering area formed in this embodiment, or any metering areaor isolation area formed in any embodiment, need not necessary be formedby imposing a gate structure on a hair channel wall. For example, thenarrowing metering area in this embodiment could be formed entirely asan opened-ended slit cut into a hair handler such as an entrance gate.

****Several Metering Area Sizes Available Choose the Best for a GivenPerson's Hair Lack of Hair Diameter Variability On a Head SimplifiesDesign:

To the extent that scalp hair diameter remains constant on each person'shead but varies from person to person, two or more hair isolationsub-systems could be available, each calibrated for a specific diameterof hair. For example, there could be several pushback gates each with adifferent metering distance from its entrance gate. This would allow themetering area size to be adjusted to the hair diameters on a specificperson's head. This simple entrance and pushback gate combination couldbe used as the single hair isolation system rather than the much morecomplex embodiments described above. Of course, this would mean that thesystem operator would somehow have to ascertain the diameter of hairs ona given person's head.

****The Use of Sensors and Flexibly Yielding Hair Handlers for HairIsolation

In several of the above-described hair isolation system embodiments,there is mention made of certain hair handlers stopping when they comein contact with hairs in the metering area that get in their path. Thereare two basic types of systems that can be used to allow a hair handlerto stop in this manner. The first involves mechanically yielding hairhandlers and the second is based on electronic control via sensormonitoring.

Referring to FIG. 117.I, mechanical hair handler stopping may befacilitated by making each hair handler tine somewhat flexible alongarrows 117F. Since several like hair handlers are connected andoperating in independent hair channels, they cannot all be expected tostop independently unless they are flexibly connected. Thus, each hairhandler has a flexibility joint at some point, along its tine, betweenits functional area and its supporting connectivity bridge. Referring toFIG. 117, one example of such flexibility joint involves interruptingthe metal tine and placing a silicone connectivity joint 117A in itsplace. Such a silicone joint can be formed by starting with a metalpattern that has temporary supports 117B that bypass the area where thejoint is to be placed and connect the distant end 117C of the tine tothe connectivity bridge 117D. These temporary supports not only connectbut also surround the future joint area so as to hold liquid silicone inthe joint as it solidifies. After the silicone is solid, the temporarysupports and any excess silicone should be cut away. The flexibilityjoint need not be composed of silicone. Any other suitable material oreven a spring-like pattern 117E formed into the metal to form the jointmay be used, as in FIG. 117.2. Further still, the flexibility joint neednot be placed at exact position shown in the drawings. It can be placedanywhere between the functional area of each hair handler and itsconnectivity bridge.

Other possible mechanical methods include (but are not limited to)forming a flexibility joint by connecting two horizontal stacked rigidlayers with a flexibly yielding material sandwiched between them.Further still, the use of a joint might not be necessary if the entiretine assembly can be fabricated from a sufficiently flexible material.However, such an assembly is likely to be too flexible and might need tobe supported by being sandwiched between two or attached against onefirmer layer. Finally, micro-machine type actuators, to be discussedbelow, could be used as a means of allowing functional areas to yieldseparately, even if sensors do not control them.

Electronic control via sensor monitoring is based on sending an electricor electromagnetic flow across a hair channel and modifying hair handlerbehavior when it is interrupted. In the case of the hair isolationsystem, the sensor flow could be sent across the metering area atseveral points subdividing each metering area. Each point monitoredcould have a gate capable of subdividing its metering area at orrelative to said point. If a front-most hair interrupts a sensor's path,one or more hair handlers will not be moved as they normally would. Thisway said front-most hair would not be disturbed. The separatelycontrolled hair handlers used in hair isolation should close behind thisfront-most hair at the first point the sensors detect. a gap between thefront-most hair and trailing hairs. A sensor-controlled system hasoperational advantages over an entirely mechanical system. For example,a sensor-controlled system does have to disturb the hair that stops it.This means it need not undesirably risk pushing the front-most hair outof the metering area by bringing a hair handler in contact with thefront-most 50% of said hair's diameter. This operational advantageallows a sensor-controlled system to handle a wider range of hairdiameters than an otherwise identical non-sensor-controlled system.

However, the operational advantages come at the cost of increasedcomplexity. A sensor-based system not only has to monitor several pointsacross each metering area but it must be able to control the movement ofeach hair handler in each channel separately. Thus, like hair handlerscannot be joined by a connectivity bridge and moved in unison. Rather,some type of micro-machine technology would be most beneficial to use tocontrol each hair-handler functional area separately.

****Multi-Chamber Holding Area Design

The original system presented included compound pushback gates that werealso responsible for transporting, into the attachment area, the hairsthat they had isolated in their notches. Next, I presented the idea thatpushback function and transport-forward function could be assigned totwo separate parts. Further still, the pushback function and holdingfunction could be assigned to two separate parts. In other words, theholding gates could be configured as dedicated holding gates as opposedto holding gates that also act as pushback gates. Of course, thisrequires an independent hair isolation ;mechanism to feed thesededicated holding gates with isolated hairs. The single-hair-isolationmechanisms described above could be used for this purpose. A descriptionof dedicated holding gates and dedicated transport-forward-gate functionfollows:

The following description refers to FIG. 118. In dedicatedholding/transport-forward gate systems, instead of usingmultiple-pushback gates to isolate hairs, a single pushback gate 118Cper channel meters out hairs one at a time. These isolated hairs don'tgo directly into the attachment area, but instead, they go into aholding area between the attachment area and a hair isolation means. Anaggregate holding area is subdivided by holding gates 118A intoindividual holding areas or holding notches 118E. The holding gatesclosest to the attachment area, shown as holding gates 118A.1, may helpserve as an entrance gate to the attachment area. Holding gate 118A.1remains closed over the hair channel before any hairs are introducedinto the holding area. After the first isolated hair (or hairs) isintroduced into the holding area, holding gate 118A.2 closes behind it.Next, a second isolated hair is introduced into the holding area, andholding gate 118A.3 closes behind this second hair. The end result isthat we have two hairs each isolated in its own holding notch in theholding area. Each time a hair is introduced into the holding area, thehair isolation system must cycle once. If we want to introduce two hairsinto each holding notch and single hair isolation system is used, itmust cycle twice before for each holding notch to be filled.

In a system where more than two holding notches must be filled, thisprocess can be repeated for how ever many holding notches 118E thereare. Note: The holding gates, (single) pushback gates 118C, and anyentrance 118B or narrower gates all move from side to side. Theflexible-fingers type variable-diameter-hair isolator most likely movesin from the side at approximately a 45° angle. The variable-diameterhair isolator 112F can be considered any means capable of isolating asingle hair from a group of hairs that may have different diameters. InFIG. 118, the flexible-finger-like-projections configuration is the typeof variable diameter hair isolator illustrated. However, in practice,any hair isolation system can be substituted for it. The scalp hairsenter in the direction designated by arrow 118D. Optionally, hair sensorcircuit pathways designated by 12D and 12D′ can be used to sense thepresence of scalp hairs or hair extensions in the holding notches 1118Eon either the hair extension or scalp hair side.

Referring to FIG. 119, once single hairs 41D or 41E are isolated intheir individual holding notches, they are ready to be transported intothe attachment area by the dedicated-transport-forward gates 108B. Thesemultiple-transport-forward gates transport scalp hairs 41D and hairextensions 41E into the attachment chambers in the exact manner as themultiple-pushback gates originally described. The difference between theoriginal multiple-pushback gates and thededicated-multiple-transport-forward gates is that thededicated-transport-forward gates don't have to isolate hairs becausethe hairs have already been isolated for them in holding area notchesthat line up with their notches. As such, the notch-separating sub-tinesof the dedicated-multiple transport-forward gates don't have to have atapered design capable of pushing hairs back and they don't have to havea staggered design where the front-most pushback gates cross the hairchannel before those pushback gates farther away from the attachmentarea. Instead, the notch-separating sub-tines of thededicated-transport-forward gates can all be equal length and even haveflat fronts.

***Electro-Magnetic Pathways for Sensors, Micro-Machines and otherElectrical Components in the Attachment Stack.***

Previously, I have discussed the incorporation of electrical componentsinto the attachment stack. These electrical components include varioustypes of sensors and micro-machines. By micro-machines, I am referringto extremely small devices that move by mechanical forces generated bythemselves. These micro-machines usually are supplied with electricityand sometimes with water or other fluid in order to generate steam thatallows them to function as small steam engines. The electricity andwater could be supplied through pathways formed into various layers ofthe attachment stack. The pathways on each of these layers could besupplied with electricity by contacts at the back of each layer. Asshown previously these input contacts might be arranged in a stair-steppattern at the back or one of the sides of the attachment stack.

Thus, micro-machines or any such functional equivalent which allowsindependent actuation of individual hair handler functional areas eitherfreeing said functional areas from having to be placed on movingtine-assemblies or allowing said functional areas to move in a slightlydifferent manner from the moving tine-assemblies which support them,should be considered as an actuation option. Alternatively, a hybridbetween a tine-assembly with all like functional areas physicallyconnected so that they move it unison and a micro-machine is apossibility. In such a configuration, the tine-assembliesmacro-actuation means, such as solenoids, could simply be substitutedfor a micro-machine means contained entirely in the handle unit and,perhaps, the attachment stack itself.

****Micro-Wire Manufacturing:

The micro-wires that supply the sensors and micro-machines withelectricity will have to be manufactured into individual layers in sucha manner that they are electrically insulated. The following proceduresdescribe some examples of how such micro-wires can be formed:

-Micro-wires within the layers can be generated by . . .

-   -   --Adhering a sheet of conductive material to a, perhaps clear,        inorganic ceramic such as glass and using a laser, chemical        etching, or other cutting means to selectively cut pathways in        the conductor. The result is thin wire-like pathways supported,        at least on one side, by an insulating inorganic material.    -   --Adhering the conductor to a thin flexible film and using a        laser to cut channels both in the film and conductor. One should        make sure the film has adequate margins around the conductor        that it can hold the cut central portions together. The        film-conductor assembly can then be sandwiched between layers of        the attachment stack. The layers of the attachment stack will        provide firm support for this probably fragile assembly. The        flexible film will probably provide electrical insulation around        the conductors and may also act as an adhesive that adheres the        assembly to the adjacent layers of attachment stack. In might        act as an adhesive because it is coated with a sticky substance        like those used with adhesive tape, or because it melts when        exposed to heat while pressed between adjacent layers of the        attachment stack.    -   --Adhering the conductor to a substance (flexible or stiff,        clear or opaque) that is more resistant to chemical etching than        the conductor. Etch paths in the conductor using chemical photo        etching.    -   --Forming directly by vapor deposition on or between        non-conductive surfaces. Where said non-conductive surfaces may        either be flexible or stiff.

Certain electrical circuits might be used to generate heat at a specificpoint. For example, adhesive outputs based on heated vapor bubbles needa small point of high electrical resistance that will heat up causing avapor bubble. The areas that carry the electricity to the heatingelement, in order to remain relatively cool, should have relativelylower electrical resistance. This lower electrical resistance can beachieved by making these areas wider, thicker, or from a more conductivematerial than the heating area. This will likely require that theheating elements and less electrically resistant portions of theelectrical supply pathways to be manufactured as separate layers thatare joined together. To do this, after forming, the layers should bejoined together by laminating them between the two non-conductivebackings. Further, the two layers could be most securely joined by ameans such as laser welding.

If a clear ceramic is used as the laminating material, its thicknessmatters less and it needn't be melted by laser welding. However, manyother laminate types might get melted themselves during the laserwelding. If they are thick and clear enough, they might survive.Otherwise, a second layer of laminate should be laser welded on top ofthe first ones to ensure electrical or optical insulation is maintained.

A vapor bubble system heated not by electrical resistance but, instead,by light or other electromagnetic radiation is a possibility. Opticalpathways via internal reflection could carry the light. The light couldbe focused, most ideally on a light absorbent surface, at the pointwhere heat is desired.

-Some of the sensors and other mechanisms that use light as energy willneed to use optical pathways that carry light via internal reflection.There are several ways of forming such optical pathways including butnot limit to:

-Molding.

-Vapor deposition.

-Chemical etching of an optically clear surface. Said optically clearsurface most likely adhered to an acid resistant surface.

****Hair Channel Sensors:

A sensor typically detects hairs when its path across a hair channel isinterrupted. The presence of detected hairs can be input into a computerfor purposes such as hair counting and modifying the behavior of thehair manipulation system. For example, a sensor that detects hairs inthe hair channels, in effect counting them, could be combined with awheel type sensor that measures distance or speed of movement over thescalp. Together these two sensors could be used to judge the density ofhair in an area of the head. With this density information, the systemcould adjust the number of hair extensions it attaches in any given areaof scalp. Ideally, to achieve the most accurate counts, a single or veryfew hairs should be isolated in an area along the channel, such as ametering area. Thus, when a sensor detects the presence of hairs in thisisolated area, the system can know that this means it has detectedexactly one, or some other known number, of hairs.

Hair channel sensors could also be used to measure the diameter of eachhuman hair on the head. For example, by deploying sensors across each ina series of in-line connected hair channel compartments that becomeincreasingly narrower, usually with increased proximity to theattachment area (as in FIG. 116), the system can know within a certainrange the diameter hairs present in these compartments. Since thisconfiguration is based on the sub-hair-diameter-accuracy spaced singlehair isolation system, it will most likely be used with it. Thus, alikely algorithm would be to detect the front-most compartment that hasa hair in it, record this data as the hair-width measurement for theisolation cycle. Of course, sensors could also detect hair width in amanner analogous to the sub-hair-diameter-interval spaced system byspacing the channel sensors at sub-hair-diameters, however, this willlikely be more difficult to implement. Some of the specifics involvedwith hair channel sensor implementation in general are discussed below.

****Electric Current Sensors:

In order to implement electric-current gap sensors, an electricalvoltage could be run across a hair channel gap between two dipole endsof a gap-interrupted electrical circuit. Said dipole ends would not onlybe put on opposite sides of a hair channel but might also be put onopposite sides of a dielectric layer (one on top, one below). Saiddielectric layer will help prevent the circuit from closing anywhereexcept the designated areas. The closest tips of said dipole ends willlikely have very thin widths on the order of the width a human hair.Thus, in order for the voltage to arc, it must cross the hair channel ata specific point. Hair should have a different (probably higher)dielectric value than air does. Thus, when a hair is in the way, adifferent amount of electrical flow (probably less) will pass at a givenvoltage. This change can be used to detect the presence of a hair. Sincethe status of this voltage and electrical-flow characteristics can bemonitored thousands of times per second; certain changes can be countedas individual hairs.

The gap between the two designated dipole ends of the circuit shouldhave the smallest dipole moment available in the electric current. Toachieve this, nearby conductors could be kept at a distance or insulatedby a material with a high dielectric value. For example, both the topsurfaces and perhaps even vertical sides of the hair channel could becovered with a dielectric coating. Likewise, the gap could be kept to aminimum simply by greatly narrowing a portion of the hair channel or byputting one of the dipoles' ends on a moving hair-handler functionalarea that temporarily narrows the gap.

In order to prevent arcing between electrical circuits in neighboringhair channels, the circuits in neighboring channels might be turned offwhile its closest neighbors are on. Alternatively, neighboring hairchannels could use completely independent electrical circuits.

****Light and Electro-Magnetic Radiation

The hair sensors can also be based on passing a beam of light, or otherelectro-magnetic radiation, across the channel. Of course, hairs wouldbe detected when the beam is broken. Independent fiber optic circuitsthat have gaps across each hair channel could facilitate this. A similarapproach could be used with other types of electromagnetic radiationsuch as radio waves. Of course, this would mean a transmission andreceiving means would each have to be placed on opposite sides of eachhair channel.

***Micro-Machine Concerns***

****Micro-Machine Design:

Micro-machines are small electrically powered moving devices usuallyformed by etching, and often etched into a semi-conductive material orsilicon-based material such as those materials usually used to formcomputer micro-processors. Although many micro-machines that have beenfabricated are actually microscopic, such as a small steam engineactuator fabricated by. Sandia National Laboratories, those used forthis invention typically won't be this small. They are, nevertheless,micro-machine-like and, as such, will be referred to as micro-machinesin this discussion. In this discussion, macro-machine is used todescribe other types of mechanisms. For example, hair-handlingtine-assemblies are actuated by macro-machine parts, like solenoids, andare themselves macro-machine part of macro-machine assemblies becausethey depend on macro-machine parts for their movement. Substitutingconnectivity-bridge-attached hair handlers for independently movingmicro-machine actuated hair handlers requires certain designmodifications:

--Micro-machine-driven channel narrowers (or any micro-machine-drivenpart that overhangs the hair channels) might have the stresses againstthem reduced by placing a likely macro-machine powered and likely systemwide channel narrower means, most likely based on a connectivity-bridgeconfiguration, beneath them all such as to limit the area they overhangthe hair channel unprotected.

-The micro-machine layer, or layers, in the stack could be placed in amanner similar to the sensor layer. This is to say they would requireinsulated electrical pathways leading to them. Further, they would betotally self-contained within their layer(s) and could be placed aboveor below the scalp sensors at any level in the attachment stack.

-In addition to micro-machine linear actuators, the use ofmicro-machine-driven circular members, such as gears, which advance,perhaps toothed, rods is a possibility to use to advance hair-handlerfunctional areas.

****Specific Micro-Machine Uses:

Although in general micro-machine type mechanisms can replace all themoving-connectivity-bridge type mechanisms previously described, hereare some specific examples of micro-machine uses:

-Conceivably, the use of micro-machine-based hair counting would lessenthe need for having individually controlled adhesive application nozzleattachment jets. That is if individually controlled (ideally bymicro-machine) hair-handler functional areas do not move hair extensionsinto the attachment chambers in channels which have chosen not to applyadhesive because their corresponding scalp-hair-holding chambers aren'tsufficiently full.

-The use of holding gates can be optimized by constructing them asmicro-machine type actuators. By using holding gates, the number ofsensors per tine channel needed to confirm presence of scalp hairs inall holding notches can be reduced to one per tine channel (instead ofone per nozzle or notch). This is because holding gates are filled oneat a time, and thus, can be monitored by one sensor per tine-channelcounting the hairs that passes it. Such a sensor would likely be placedsomewhere between the hair isolation system and back of the holding areafarthest from the attachment area. Also, the nozzles could be controlledin channel subsets a few at a time. This is because the front (nearestattachment area) holding gates are, in some embodiments, more likely tobe filled than the last ones because they fill up front to back. If ahair channel sensor in the metering area doesn't count a sufficientnumber of hairs passing through it, it can be known that a certainholding-area notch is empty without monitoring this holding area notchdirectly. Thus, the nozzle or set of nozzles in the attachment chambercorresponding to this holding area notch could be kept from outputtingadhesive and/or the corresponding holding notches which serve the hairextensions could be left unfilled on purpose.

-Consider using micro-machine actuators to control individualnozzle-shut-off valves. Said valves might be placed anywhere along thefluid-supply lines, including the base unit but they could be madesmaller if placed in the handle unit or attachment stack itself, wherethe adhesive (or other fluid) supply lines are themselves smaller.

--Also it might be easier to implement shut off of the nozzles byrerouting the flow of each line's fluid in a U-turn back to the supplyreservoir rather than closing them off by completely stopping theirflow. Micro-machine actuators placed anywhere along a supply line mightbe used for this purpose.

-Micro-machines could combine several different types of hair handlersin the same level.

-In a predominately micro-machine system, certain macro-machine hairhandlers might remain. Especially, likely to remain is a macro-machinetype pullback hook system configured as tines on a connectivity bridge,as originally described above. This is because the pullback hook willusually move over a much greater distance than the other hair handlerswill.

-The etching technology used to make micro-machines is relativelyexpensive on a size basis. Thus, the area where the actual micro-machinehair handlers reside should be minimized. This can best be done bysurrounding, on any or all sides, the micro-machine layers of theattachment stack with supporting layers fabricated in a less expensivemanner. For example, the micro-machine system might be confined to athin band-like module (like largely perpendicular to the hair channels)in only the hair-handler functional areas. Naturally, the attachmentareas would bisect this thin band.

In order to supply this thin band of micro-machine parts with inputssuch as electricity and any needed fluids, it should somehow be fused inthe attachment stack with less expensive supporting structures. Thesesupporting structures will take on nearly the same configuration as thatdescribed for the first-described embodiment of the attachment stacksystem, except for having a subset of micro-machines embedded. In orderto assure smooth attachment of the micro-machine module to thesupporting portions of the attachment stack, adjacent layers of bothshould be staggered or overlapped at the connection joint(s) where laserwelding or a similar form of attachment occurs. In other words, thevertical seam between the micro-machine stack and supporting portions ofthe attachment stack should not be straight line (when viewed from theside); rather alternating layers should be interwoven. To illustrate, ifthe length of a fluid channel wall segment is longer in themicro-machine module, it will be correspondingly shorter on the otherside of the attachment joint in the support structure, or vice versa.Also in this scenario, the layers forming the floor and ceiling of saidfluid supply channels would be longer in the support structure andcorrespondingly shorter in the micro-machine module. This leads tooverlap which facilities a hermetic seal much better than trying toattach two blunt-ended stacks together. A similar situation exists withelectrical supply pathways. Rather than putting the length of thepathway on the same level in both the support structure and modulesections of the stack, a single pathway should be put on two adjacentand overlapping layers that can be fused together. Said fusing is likelydone by a means of welding layers together such as laser welding.

-   -   --Before fusing the micro-machine module to the supporting        structures of attachment stack, said micro-machine module might        have connectivity bridges of its own. Once attached to the        supporting. structures these connectivity bridges may or may not        be destroyed. If destroyed, laser cutting will likely do it.    -   --The micro-machine module and support structures might both        have holes through them that can be aligned with pegs. This is        to ensure proper alignment during fusing.    -   -Micro-machines can be used as a means of allowing hair-handler        functional areas to yield relative certain hairs in their path,        in an analogous manner to the functional area flexibility        joints, described herein. This yielding can be accomplished        simply because the micro-machine functional areas can be        calibrated to have a maximum strength. Of course, since        micro-machine functional areas usually move separately from        homologous functional areas in parallel hair channels,        flexibility joints are unnecessary.        ***Actuator/Tine Interface***

Referring to FIG. 120 a top plan view of portions of a hair-handlerassembly with its tines omitted, the use of control rods 39J placed inslots through the connectivity bridges of the hair-handling tines wasmentioned previously. These slots and rods accurately control thedistances and directions that hair handlers can slide. When a hairhandler slides in only one direction, it is simple to understand how arod in a slot controls its distance of travel. However, some hairhandlers need to travel along two or more axes. For this to occur, theactuators and their attached cables 39E, which move the hair-handlingtine assembly, often pull in two directions simultaneously. One of thesedirections will be the desired direction of hair handler movement. Theother direction will be against a side of the slot that is parallel tosaid direction of desired movement. This way the side that the rod isheld against controls hair-handling tine's exact path and distance ofmovement. In such a configuration, it is helpful to use a rod that hasat least one flat smooth side that lies parallel to each direction ofdesired movement. If the hair-handling tine has two-axis motion, the rodwill likely have a four-sided rectangular cross-sectional shape.However, if diagonal or three-axis motion is also used, the rod'scross-sectional shape should include flat diagonal/sloped edges. Inother words, the rod's cross-sectional shape might be hexagonal oroctagonal. Using these principals, slots with more than four sides canbe constructed to guide very complex motion patterns, such as slot 40Kin FIG. 120.1, a top plan view of portions of a hair-handler assemblywith its tines omitted.

Previously, the optional use of cable to hair handler interface sheetswas mentioned. Referring to FIG. 120.2 (a front plan view of a stack ofhair-handler assemblies and their connections to actuator cables) thethin interface sheets 120C allow the use of relatively thick cables toconvey the motion of the actuators but mediate the attachment of thesethick cables to the hair handlers. As such, only thin sheets come incontact with the hair handlers. The most ideal way to configureinterface sheets is to wrap one end of a thin film 120C around the endof a bulky cable 39E and attach the other end of the film in a usuallylaminar manner to the surface of hair handler layer 120E. To facilitatea strong attachment, small holes could be made in the surface of thehair handler tine at this attachment point. These holes would allowadhesive or plastic melted from the interface means to penetrate them.

Of course, any means that causes the cable to get flatter or thinnerwill work. For example, if the cable is plastic, its end could bepressed into a sheet shape. Further still, although interface sheets arepreferred, because their usually increased width compensates for theirdecreased thickness, any object narrower than the original cable couldsuffice. For example, an interface cable of smaller diameter than theoriginal cable could be used. Such a cable could be configured either byattaching a smaller cable to the large one, or manipulating the largercable's end to become narrower. Such a configuration is often preferableto using a relatively thin cable over the entire length between hairhandler and actuator because the length of mechanical weakness isreduced to a very short span of cable.

Regardless of the form of the interface means, it is, in some direction,thinner than the actuator cables. This often means that the stack ofhair handler tines and their flattened interface means will be thinnerthan the stack of actuator cables. If this is the case, unless somethingholds them together, the stacked hair handlers will not want to liesurface to surface, but rather, each hair handler will want to lie alongthe plane of its actuator cables. This is unacceptable so something mustbe used to push the hair handlers together. It may or may not be enoughto rely on any higher stationary levels of the attachment stack to dothis. If not, we should configure a part to push either directly on thehair-handling-tine assemblies or, more ideally, on their interface means120C. It is preferable to push only the interface means together becausewhatever is pushed on will both rub and bend around the push togethermeans 120F. Since the hair handling tines themselves must remain flat,ideally only the interface means should be expected to bend. As such,the push-together means 120F should be placed far enough from thehair-handling-tine assembly that the two never come in contact.Likewise, the actuator cables 39E should be placed far enough from thepush-together means to allow for a sufficiently gentle slope of theinterface means as they expand outwards towards their attachments 120Dwith their actuator cables 39E. The push together means 120F ideallyshould have a smooth and curved surface that facilitates the interfacemeans bending easily around it.

Ideally, all misaligned actuator cables should all be either too farabove or too far below their stack of hair handling tines. For example,if all misaligned actuator cables are too far above, as shown by bracket120G, then only a push down means 120F is needed to push the hairhandler tine stack together. An additional push up means is not needed.

Cable attachments for a hair handler with only one axis have beenfrequently shown. In such a configuration, there were only twoattachment points; one point pulls the hair handler in one direction,and an attachment point, usually on the opposite side of thehair-handler-tine assembly, pulls in the opposing direction. If two ormore axes of motion need to be used, at least four attachment pointswill usually be used. In other words, two sets of two opposing cablesare used. Although these cables can be hooked to the hair handlerassembly in a variety of ways, the most preferred manner is shown on theleft side of FIG. 120. Each of the cables (or interface means) 120I thatcontrol side to side movement are placed on opposite sides of the hairhandler tine assembly. However, the cables (or interface means) 120Jthat control front to back movement are placed on the same side of thehair handler assembly. Most ideally the front-to-back cables areattached to or very near one of the side-to-side cables. This placementconserves on the attachment notches that must be made in thehair-handler-tine assembly. This is because one of the side-to-sidecables shares a single set of clearance notches with both of thefront-to-back cables. This type of configuration conserves space muchmore than if additional clearance notches were to be introduced. Furtherstill, this might allow the front-to-back interface means to share thesame push-together means with the side interface means. Of course, thismight mean that the side-to-side interface means would be curve alongtwo axes forming somewhat of a bowl-shape. If this is found undesirable,the front-to-back interface means could each be given their ownpush-together means. All three push-together means could be formed intoa single C-shaped part, where the interior of the C-shape is orientedtowards the hair-handler assembly.

***Non-Attachment Uses of Attachment-Stack-Type Technology***

The previous discussion about the hair attachment stack discussed itspurpose of to isolating scalp hairs and attaching hair extensions tothem. However, the attachment stack's ability to isolate one or alimited number of scalp hairs is a very useful function itself. Onceisolated, scalp hairs can be processed individually in a variety ofways. For example, once an individual scalp hair is between apincher-like structure and a left-wall-like structure, it is, in effect,surrounded by an orifice or isolated processing chamber, which it can bepulled through lengthwise. To pull a hair through such an orifice,optionally, trigger a pushout actuator that moves the hair's lowerportion beneath the orifice to the right. Next, optionally, trigger apullback hook which moves the hair's lower portion back the exitchannel, and allows it to be engaged by a bend-under means, such as thebend-under belts. By doing this while the pincher-like structure isstill closed around the scalp hair, the scalp hair is being pulledthrough an orifice from the hair's bottom to top. This orifice can dothings to the hair that change said hair as it moves through saidorifice. We will give attachment-stack type systems the broader name ofprocessing stack in order to refer to its use both in hair extensionattachment and other types of hair processing. Accordingly, we will namethe attachment chambers and attachment areas and structures homologousto them in other embodiments more broadly as processing chambers andprocessing areas because it is in these chambers and areas where thehair-related beautification or transformation takes place. Note: Themeans used to pull hair lengthwise through an orifice should not belimited to the above actuation sequence or any individual means recitedabove.

There are many types of processing a processing stack can performbesides attachment. These various other processes include, but are notlimited to the following:

-   -   1. Applying fluids to the surface of relatively isolated hairs    -   2. Reshaping the cross-sections of individual hairs by removing        material from each hair's surface or adding new structural        material to it.    -   3. Implant and Remove Surgical Hair Implants.    -   4. Automated Hair Cutting Processing Stack    -   5. Dynamic Hair-Channel or Other Functional-Area Designs        1. Applying Coatings to Hair Surfaces

If the processing done to the hair includes applying a fluid, or anymaterial, to it, the fluid can be supplied through outputs in the leftwall in a similar manner as that described for attachment adhesive.These outputs are likely to supply their fluid to the interior of anisolation chamber/orifice where it comes in contact with the hair thatis likely, but not necessarily, being pulled lengthwise through saidorifice. Although mechanics of applying coatings to hair surfaces willbe described in great deal in the Hair Shaft Sculpting section below,this section details the many possible purposes for doing so. There arevarious types of fluid or material with which we might want to bring incontact, or coat, the hair. The following list includes some examples oftypes of fluid or material that we might want to bring in contact witheach hair:

-   -A colorant such as a dye, pigment or bleach. The amount added might    be controlled by optical color sensors capable of looking at a    single hair in each isolation chamber.-   -A structural material that allows the hair cross-section to be    enlarged at certain areas. For example, thiol-dissolved keratin that    can harden and form a solid augmenting coating on the outside of    each hair fiber, in order to reshape each fiber. This can be    achieved by allowing its dissolved disulfide bonds to reform, which    they tend to do upon exposure to oxygen in the air or exposure to a    thiol-neutrualizing chemical. Generally, whenever the word thiol is    used in this document, any disulfide-breaking chemical or means    could be substituted for it.-   -A thiol or other disulfide-breaking chemical whose purpose is to    temporarily soften the protein structure of each hair so each hair    can be reshaped either with respect to its cross-sectional shape or    longitudinal curvature. (Or any other substance capable of being    used to modify the longitudinal curvature of a hair)-   -A protective coating for the surface of each hair. For example, a    coating capable of holding in good substances, like water and lipids    and keeping out bad things, like UV, certain chemicals and minerals.-   -A structural sealant capable of repairing damaged areas in a hair    including adhering split ends together. Such a chemical is likely    based on keratin-like chemicals.-   -A plasticizer-like material that softens and conditions the hair.-   --A temporary coating like wax to protect a slower hardening    permanent coating such as dissolved keratin, while it hardens on the    surface of the hair.-   ---Such a temporary protective coating could be used to hold    dissolved keratin with excess thiol, or other protein-dissolving    material, together with the hair shaft being coated. This approach    will allow the natural hair keratin and the dissolved hair keratin    to both dissolve and slightly mix together, and thus, form and    harden together under the protection of the temporary coating.-   --A temporary coating like wax to protect a hair while it undergoes    some form of processing-   ---Such a temporary protective coating could also be used to hold in    place any other substance applied to the surface of the hair while    said substance slowly performs its function on the hair. Said    substance may become permanent by any means not necessarily limited    to hardening. Said applied substances included but are not limited    to hair colorants, permanent wave and curl treatments, and    conditioners.-   --Such a temporary protective coating could act as a temporary    supportive template of each hair's softened protein structure while    each is being reshaped with respect to its cross-sectional shape or    longitudinal curvature. Such a temporary supportive coating could be    imparted its own shape by a mechanical hair setting means such as    curlers, a curling iron, a flat iron, a crimping iron, or between    two rollers.-   --A colorant based on opaque pigments or other largely opaque    coloring means. Such a substance is likely to be the    functional-equivalent of many printing inks. In other words, the    binders necessary to adhere the opaque pigments likely make the    colorant so sticky or viscous that it would be mechanically    difficult, if not impossible, to apply it to a great many hairs at    once. However, it would be possible to apply it to just one or a    very few hairs in isolation. This is especially true if heating    could temporarily decrease the coloring substance's viscosity.    Ideally, such a substance could be applied to the hair as such a    thin coating that it would not affect the structural qualities of    said hair. The end result of applying such a largely opaque    substance is that a hair's externally perceived color can be changed    without affecting its internal structure or internal pigments. Such    pigments or coloring agents might be formulated (such as by    selection of the appropriate binder) to give them certain other    properties such as . . .    -   -- . . . where such a colorant coating is temporary because it        can be removed from the hair such as by dissolving it off with        chemicals (like organic solvents) or melting it off with heat.        Since the hair's internal structure hasn't been changed, removal        of the outer coating of pigment would allow the user to go        completely back to his natural hair color. However, if neither        solvents, heat, nor other removal chemicals are applied, then        the structural coating and color ideally will remain        permanently. (The same qualities could be given to colorants        which aren't opaque also, thus, all discussion related to the        opaque pigments applies to them as well.)    -   -- . . . where such a colorant coating allows for is        water-permeable allowing moisture exchange, perhaps, because it        is keratin-based, keratin-like-chemical-based or based on        another substance capable of forming structurally-sound        moisture-penetrable coatings, thereby, binding a coloring agent        to the hair. Moisture penetrability is desirable so that normal        styling of the hair may be undertaken. Normal hairstyling        requires the hair structure to absorb water and soften and,        then, dry out, thus, slightly hardening and retaining its shape.    -   -- . . . If the formulation is to be keratin based (or        keratin-like-chemical-based), and temporary it will likely be        formulated from at least three types of substances: 1. the color        pigment (or other coloring agent), 2. the keratin or        keratin-like material, 3. an allied material(s) that allows the        keratin-like material to be heat meltable or dissolvable by        organic solvents. Said allied material and the keratin or        keratin-like-material could be allied in various ways        including 1. chemically as a copolymer, 2. by some form of        chemical cross-linking, including the possibility of linking        using disulfide bonds, 3. mechanically mixed together, perhaps        as a plasticizer. The allied substance(s) that the keratin-like        materials are allied with will determine not only how the        coating can be removed, but also how it will be made        structurally sound on the surface of the hair. For example, the        coating might be made structurally sound by hardening upon        cooling, or by allowing chemically-dissolved disulfide bonds to        reform, or by some other chemical mechanism or a combination of        several of these things together. Theoretically, the coloring        agent and allied material might be the same. Also, the allied        material might itself be a form of keratin or keratin-like        material that has been made more susceptible to be dissolved by        disulfide-bond-breaking chemicals.        Note: A wax-like protective coating is mentioned. Generally,        this refers to any coating that can be applied to the hair to        protect it and then readily removed. It may also include        substances that are liquid when hot but harden rapidly upon        cooling.        Note: The qualities required for producing a        temporary/water-permeable colorant coat described-above might        also be used to formulate a coating (colored or otherwise) that        could be used to fix the longitudinal curvature of hair in a        given shape for a period of weeks or months. However, it could        be removed at anytime during this period allowing the hair to go        back to its normal longitudinal curvature. In other words, a        hair-curling system that doesn't generally affect the internal        disulfide bonds of each hair but, instead, the structural        attributes of the coating hold the desired curvature pattern of        the hair. Since said coating can be removed, said hair can go        back completely to its natural state.        2. Hair Shaft Sculpting

We have just mentioned how bringing fluids in contact with a hairfiber's surface can improve it. We also said that one way a hair can beimproved is by changing a hair fiber's cross-sectional shape. However,bringing a hair in contact with a fluid is not the only way it can beprocessed or changed for the better. We might want to change thecross-sectional shape of a hair shaft by cutting away or reforming underpressure, its surface in certain areas. This is desirable because thetexture of a person's hair is based largely on its cross-sectional shapeand diameter. This is to say variation in overall hair appearance fromone person to the next has less to do with variation in the chemicalcompositions of hair than it has to do with variation in the shape anddiameter of each individual hair's cross-section. Thus, the user of thesystem could choose a hair cross-sectional shape and diameter based onher desired hair texture. In which case, each individual hair'scross-sectional shape will determine the aggregate appearance of all ofthe hair on the head.

For example, straight hairs usually have near perfect circlecross-sectional shapes, and curly hairs have more oblong shapes. Hairswith very thin diameters will look too weak and wispy, while hairs withvery thick diameters will look overly stiff. Hairs might be carved orreformed by a variety of devices. The description of one such devicefollows.

Carving Performed by Orifice with Two Halves

The most preferred way to carve a hair's cross-section is to surroundeach hair with two halves of a razor-sharp knife assembly and then, mostlikely, pull the hair lengthwise through this assembly. The halves willusually be semi-circles because they will usually be expected to carvehair cross-sections into a largely circular shape. The knives are bestvisualized as having an open-topped conical shape, similar to that of avolcano, as shown in FIG. 123. At the very top rim of this volcanicshape, should be a razor sharp cutting edge 123A. The diameter and shapeof this cutting edge should usually be exactly the same as that desiredfor the hairs pulled through it, such as hair 41D. However, sometimes itshould have a slightly smaller diameter than that desired for the hairspulled through because these hairs are to achieve their final diameterby subsequently being pulled through an orifice that applies a permanentstructural coating to their surface such as thiol-dissolved keratin. Insuch cases, it will be this structural coating that determines theirfinal cross-sectional shape and diameter. For this reason, therazor-sharp cutting orifice is not only free to carve the hair down to asmaller diameter, but also it may carve the hair with an unnaturalcross-sectional shape, such as a rectangular shape. Once again, this isfine because a structural coating will subsequently be added to thesurface of the hair to achieve its final cross-sectional shape anddiameter. Regardless of the exact cross-sectional shape carved, theserazor-rimmed carving orifices work by shaving off very thin layers of ahair's surface where said surface is too wide, but shave little enoughthat they leave the hair structurally sound.

Finally, notice the ridged edges 124A of the carving orifice variantshown by FIG. 124. Although the ridges are optional, they are intendedto preserve blade life by making the blade edge resistant to breaking orbending. Additionally, the razor edge of the carving mechanism is likelyto have a diamond, or a similar very thin but very hard, coatingdeposited on its surface to further extend blade life. This coating ismost likely applied using a form of vapor deposition.

FIG. 125 shows a side cross-sectional view of carving orifice halves125A and 125B surrounding a hair 41D. One might wonder if hairs passingthrough these carving orifices would undesirably get cut in halftransversely, rather than being shaved longitudinally. This is unlikelyto happen for two reasons. First, the razor-rimmed edges of the carvingorifices are placed in a plane largely perpendicular to the surface ofeach hair. Secondly, the hairs will be expected to remain this waybecause they are being held under tension, most likely by the tensioninghair straightener and because of the small scales involved, the hairsbehave as rigid cylinders with reference to the orifices.

Those Reshaping Orifices Used for Coating are Usually Composed of TwoHalves, Also

Earlier, we said that one reason for application of coatings to thesurface of hairs is to add material to the hair surfaces so as to changetheir cross-sectional shapes. Although there are several ways this canbe done, including spraying materials from nozzles onto individualisolated hair held before them, in the hair-cross-sectional-reshapingprocess, materials are generally applied to hairs before or during theirbeing pulled lengthwise through coating application orifices. Theseorifices are used to control the cross-sectional shape and diameter ofthe coating surface applied to the hair. Like the carving orificesdescribed above, these coating orifices represent a type ofcross-sectional reshaping orifice and are composed of two largelysemi-circular halves each pair of which closes around a single hair.These orifices will usually be placed in-line with and below the carvingorifices. Thus, hairs will be pulled lengthwise through a series oforifices- some of which cut away material, others that add it, but allof which are working together to give each hair a desiredcross-sectional shape.

Some examples of what coating orifices may look like are describedimmediately below. Generally, coating orifices are composed of twolargely semi-circular halves whose interior cross-sectional shapes anddiameters are the same, as those desired for the outer dimensions of thecoating they apply. Referring to FIG. 126, notice how the left half 126Aof the coating orifice has a projection 126B extending from it with ahollow channel 126C inside. It is this projection that plugs into afluid coating output on the left wall. Naturally, an alternative designwould be possible in which the left wall bears a projection that plugsinto a concave notch in the side of the left orifice half. Hair 41D issurrounded by said coating orifice's left half 126A and right half 126E.Referring to FIG. 127, we see a side cross-sectional representation of aleft orifice half 127A plugging into the left wall 127B. Perhaps, nozzleoutput 127C on the left wall and/or orifice projection 127D have sealsalong their edges made out of a resilient material to prevent leaks. Thehair being pulled through is represented by 41D. Next, we will discussside cross-sectional representations of three different coating orificeshapes. Firstly, in FIG. 128, there is a constant diameter coatingorifice variant whose entire interior is the shape and diameter of thecross-sectional-coating outer diameter it is to produce. Secondly, in129, there is a constricted-bottom variant whose belly 129A is wide toallow easy flow of a high viscosity coating around the hair shaft 41D,but whose bottom 129C narrows to impart the cross-sectional-coatingshape and diameter desired. Finally, referring to FIG. 130, theconstricted-top-and-bottom coating orifice variant has both aconstricted top 130A and bottom 129C. This design allows easy flow ofhigh viscosity coating around the hair shaft 41D in the central region129A, but prevents coating escape from both ends.

Since hair 41D, as shown in FIG. 131, will be pulled lengthwisevertically downward from one type of orifice to next, several differenttypes of orifices are likely to be connected together vertically in-lineas a single moving part attached to the end of a tine. This in-lineassembly might include several coating orifices each/ applying adifferent coating. The razor-rimmed carving orifice 131A is placedin-line and above the coating-application orifices 131B and 131C.Although the razor-rimmed carving orifices could be vertically attachedin-line with the coating application orifices below them, they are morelikely placed on their own independent tine assemblies so that they canbe controlled independently of the coating application orifices. Ofcourse, in this drawing, all orifices are shown floating in spacebecause the vertical attachments have been omitted. In practice, theorifices might be spaced so closely that a hair is not exposed to theexternal atmosphere as it passes from one orifice to the next.Alternatively, the orifices will have enough space between them that ahair will be exposed to the atmosphere as it passes from one orifice tothe next. Often we will want to include a space between orifices so thatvacuum intakes, likely positioned on the left wall, can carry away anyexcess escaped coating fluid and hair shavings. If we would like toexpose the hairs to the benefits of a vacuum without exposing themdirectly to the external atmosphere, we can place vacuum orifices in thevertical stack without space above or below them. Vacuum orifices havelargely the same structure as coating orifices, but instead of beingsupplied a coating fluid by the left wall; they plug into a vacuumintake, most likely on the left wall.

Of course, as with other hair processing systems, like the attachmentsystem previously illustrated, we want to bring several hairs into eachprocessing area at once so several hairs can be processed at the sametime in a single channel. And thus, the system will process more hairsin a given amount of time. Therefore, each system should have severalprocessing chambers, (in-line orifice sets), in the processing area ofeach channel. Referring to FIG. 132, we see what we will call amultiple-orifice pincher assembly. It has two, or more, orifices 132Aand 132B (shown as generic orifices) per channel processing area holdingtwo hairs 41D and 41D. By generic orifices, we mean any type of orificeincluding but not limited to carving orifices, coating orifices, vacuumorifices, and the yet to be discussed hair centering guides. Althoughonly two orifices are shown here, in practice, there are likely five ormore orifice sets per channel. Also, notice the interlocking convexprojections 132E and 132F and concave notches 132G and 132H placed atthe margins of the multiple-orifice assembly. These interlockingstructures help guarantee alignment between the orifices halves. Ifthese orifices were coating orifices, they could plug into the left wallusing projections 132I and 132J. Naturally, 132I and 132J could beconsolidated into one single projection which branches out within theassembly to supply the multiple orifices, therein.

Although the multiple-orifice assembly in FIG. 132 merely has two copiesof one type of orifice, referring to FIG. 133, we see threemultiple-orifice assemblies 133A, 133A′, and 133A″ vertically attachedin-line by vertical-attachment beams 133D and 133D′. Notice how eachmultiple-orifice assembly is composed of a right and a left half. Allthe right halves are supported by beam 133D′ and all the left by beam133D. These vertical-attachment beams, themselves, will most likely eachbe connected to the end of a tine as shown by 134A and 134B in FIG. 134.Although shown as generic orifices, in FIGS. 132-134, these stackedorifices will most likely be of different types that perform differentfunctions, such as carving and coating.

Orifice Halves are Closed Together by Placing Each Half On a PincherMechanism

This discussion has largely assumed that the hair-reshaping orificeswill be composed of, at least, two moving halves, or parts. To be morespecific, one half will be disposed on, or near, the left wall, and theother on a structure homologous to the hair extension attachmentembodiment's pincher mechanism, as shown in FIG. 10. Although movementmight be limited to only one half of each pair, ideally, it is moredesirable to think of each in the pair of orifice halves as being on twoseparate moving pinchers. One would move from the right in a largelysimilar manner to the pincher previously described in hair extensionattachment system. The other pincher would move from the left. In otherwords, the left pincher would be positioned between the left wall andthe right pincher, such that it would come between the left wall and themore familiarly positioned right pincher. This dual-pincher design isdesirable because both pinchers can be moved away from their encircledhairs simultaneously. This is advantageous because it allows processingof both sides of the hair to be stopped simultaneously. Furthermore, itcould allow one type of processing to stop while other types of in-lineprocessing continue to occur. For example, the hair cross-section couldbe carved by one pair of carving orifice pinchers below which anotherpair of coating application orifice pinchers would be responsible foradding structural keratin to the surface of the hair. In such aconfiguration, the carving pair of pinchers could be independentlyreleased allowing only the structural material adding orifices tocontinue. This maneuver is likely to be used when the hairs have beenrun through the system before, and only the areas near their roots needto be processed. This system could carve the areas only near the rootsand apply material to only those carved areas and a little higher. Inthis scenario, if material application had to cease at the same momentas carving, a short segment of carved area would never be pulled througha coating-application orifice nor have structural material applied toit.

Since it is desirable to limit complexity wherever possible, we mustquestion each pincher half's need to move. If a dual-pincher system isused for the application of any fluid, such as a structural coating, theleftmost pincher halves most likely will have a channel through eachthat interfaces with fluid outputs on the left wall. The desired fluidwill flow from the left wall through this channel into the center of theisolation chamber where it will come in contact with a hair. As such,expecting the left pincher halves of the fluid application orifices tomove once each processing cycle would be adding needless complexity tothe system because it disturbs the junction with the left wall. On theother hand, if we were to simply build the left-orifice halves into theleft walls as non-moving, the system could only give the hairs onecross-sectional shape and diameter. In order to enable a selection ofvarious cross-sectional shapes and sizes while still reducingcomplexity, the left pincher should be allowed to move but only betweenclient sessions when the cross-sectional shape and size setting needs tobe changed.

To allow the system to produce several different sizes or shapes of haircross-sections, several different types of cross-sectional-reshapingassemblies could be placed separately on different connectivity-bridgetine assemblies. As shown by the perspective view of a single hairchannel in FIG. 134, there is one set of vertically in-line orifices foreach type of hair cross-section, and each said set is composed of twomoving halves, such as the left half 134A and right half 134B. Each ofthese halves is attached to its own tine assembly. These different typesof cross-sectional-reshaping assemblies could be nested, as pairs, inthe storage area bracketed by 134C which is out of the way of the pathof hair flow through the channels. In other words, exiting hairs flow tothe left of this storage area. In said storage area, there are threedifferent cross-sectional-reshaping assembly sets, each one capable ofproducing a different hair cross-section. For visually, clarity only thefront-most set is fully illustrated, the two sets behind it are onlyshown as footprints 134E and 134F. Said illustrated footprintscorrespond to orifice assembly sets composed of two halves, each half isindependently attached to a tine assembly like both 134A and 134B. Thus,this, drawing implies six separate halves, which require independentattachments to six separate connectivity-bridge tines, although only twoare actually illustrated.

When called out of storage for use, the left and right orifice-sethalves, although on separate tines, likely travel together. Referring tothe top plan view of same hair channel in FIG. 135, we see each orificeset travels along the path illustrated by arrows 135A, 135B and 135C. Assuch, the left half may interface with the left wall at point 135D whichsupplies the various coating and cooling fluids in addition to vacuumintake air currents. At this point, the left half 135E will usuallyremain stationary and plugged into the left wall during hair processingand will remain so until processing of an entire human head of hair iscompleted, and a new head needs a differenthair-cross-sectional-reshaping-orifice set to be used. However, theright half 135F of the assembly moves once to pinch hairs and once torelease them each processing cycle. In doing so, its lateral movement isvery much like that previously described for the attachment systempincher as illustrated by FIG. 10. The halves of each set may even haveforwardly slanted tops, like those described for the pincher in the hairextension attachment embodiment for the purpose of guiding wayward hairtips into place, as illustrated by the three steps in FIGS. 18.0-18.2.

-Referring to FIG. 134, nesting is possible in the right rear storagearea 134C of the hair channel. This nesting area is available because,unlike the hair extension attachment system, there is no opposing flowof hair extensions from the back. The nesting pattern of theorifice-pincher-connectivity-bridge-tine assemblies is shown from a planright side view by FIG. 136. Here, it is assumed that four in-linereshaping orifice halves 136A, 136B, 136C, and 136D are attachedvertically together. Thus, in FIG. 136, the razor-rimmed carvingorifices would move together with the coating application orifices. InFIG. 137, it is assumed that all in-line coating orifice halves areattached vertically together on a independent tine assemblies 137A, 137Bor 137C, but each razor-rimmed carving orifice half is placed on its owntine assembly 137D, 137E, or 137F. In which case, the carving orificesare able to move independently of the coating application orifices. Forreference, the connectivity-bridge portion of the tine assemblies isbracket by 137G in FIG. 137 and by 136G in FIG. 136.

As enclosed by perimeter 135G in FIG. 135, the isolation and sortingmechanisms for the scalp hairs are likely present in the same area as inthe hair extension attachment stack and function virtually identicallyas described for the attachment system. For example, transport-forwardgates will likely be used to carry scalp hairs into alignment with eachorifice chamber (or processing chamber) of the cross-sectional reshapingsystem in the exact same manner transport-forward gates were used to dothe same for the hair extension attachment embodiment's pincher notches(or attachment chambers), as illustrated in FIG. 48. Also, in the samemanner as the attachment stack, when hairs reach the end of a hairchannel, they will be forced under the connectivity bridges by abend-under means such as the bend-under belt assembly.

Of course, if only one cross-sectional shape and size choice weredesired, the left orifice halves could be permanently built into theleft wall, and the right halves could be configured as a single pincher,very similar to the one used to form attachment chambers in theattachment system. Such a pincher would only need to be given a simpleside-to-side movement pattern and could be stored to the far right andin direct line with the left wall half, like the attachment system'spincher is. It wouldn't need to be nested to the rear. Such a systemmight even be able to stop carving before coating. This could beachieved in at least two ways. The most reliable way would be toconfigure the carving orifice pincher with both left and right movinghalves, both independent of the left wall. In a less reliable variant,the left carving half would be stationary and built into the left wall.This configuration would depend the moving right orifices half's releaseof pressure, in order to cease carving.

Hair-Centering Guides

It is desirable to make sure that hairs are centered in their processingorifices. This especially true of coating application orifices, whichare wider than the hairs going through them, and optimally, we do notwant the hair fibers to rub up against the coating-application-orificesides, because this would mean the coating would be appliedunsymmetrically around each hair. To center hairs, hair-centering guidescould be used. The hair-centering guides, as illustrated from top planview by 138A and 138B in FIG. 138, should be configured as two opposingmirror-image pinchers whose notches, often V-shaped, funnel or convergein cross-section with increased lateral distance from their leadingends. These funneling pinchers could be disposed on opposing tines. Eachtine should be capable of flexibly yielding, such as with flexibilityjoints placed in tines like those described for use with the single hairisolation system in the hair extension attachment embodiment, andillustrated in FIG. 117.

Referring to the top plan view in FIG. 138, funneling centering guides138A and 138B will meet on opposing sides of the hair 41D that needs tobe centered. They will flexibly yield to accommodate said hair'sdiameter. Since they both yield the same distance under the same amountof force, they will place the hair's center at the exact center pointbetween them. This center point should be calibrated to coincide withthe very center of the processing orifice 138D. In FIG. 139, thiscentering mechanism is shown from a perspective view converging on ahair in order to center it in a processing orifice.

In order to increase the centering accuracy of such guides, theirmaximum displacement distance, caused by contact with a hair, should belimited to a very short distance not much greater than a fewhair-diameters wide. This is to say, although the flexibility jointsinvolved most likely will be capable of moving a much greater distancethan a few hair-diameters, the maximum distance they should actually beallowed to move to accommodate variations in hair size should only be asmall fraction of this. This will mean that the spring-force change, inresponse to flexibly yielding relative to a hair's surface, will be verysmall. This can be best done by making both the guides come in contactwith part of the surface of the orifice which they serve in such awaythat they get hooked or stopped by said orifice at a very specificpoint. Said stopping point's position relative to the center of eachorifice will be very accurately controlled, and with reference to thecentering-guide convergence points 138E and 138F in FIG. 138, and shouldbe less than a few hair-diameters from the center of said orifice. Thiswill simultaneously accurately position the starting position of eachguide and limit its potential displacement in response to hair-diametervariation.

Referring to a bottom perspective view of orifice 140A and itscentering-guide halves 138A and 138B in FIG. 140, notice how the bottomof centering-guide half 138B has a projection 140D on its underside thatcomes in contact with the surface of orifice 140A, thereby preventingfarther advancement of centering-guide half 138B. The same relationshipexists between centering-guide half 138A and the projection 140E on itsunderside. The centering guide halves get hooked at points where theirapexes, or convergence-points, have advanced at most a fewhair-diameters past where the outer surface of where a centered hairshould be. You should note that although the guide might move arelatively great distance before it contacts a part of an orifice, onceits in position to center a hair, it will have an extremely smalldisplacement distance. Since in practice multiple-orifice assemblieswill be used, the hooking point and hooking projections used might lookslightly different than shown in FIG. 140.

However, even in multiple-orifice-per-channel configurations, thecentering guides should have some degree of independent movement fromother centering guides even those in the same channel. This is necessarybecause slightly different size hairs might be in a single processingarea at once, which would require that the various centering guidesinvolved to resiliently yield different amounts. This movementindependence might be achieved by various methods including sub-dividingthe tine all the way back to the flexibility joint into sub-tines eachwith a single centering guide half disposed on its end. Likewise,independent spring-resilience means could be placed at the tips of eachtine between the long portion of the tine and the functional areaportion that constitutes a centering-guide half. Placing independentmicro-machine-based centering guides on a tine is an example of thelatter.

If the opposing hair-centering guides achieve their movement variabilityor resilience through tine flexibility joints, then they will likely beplaced on independent tine assemblies not attached to the verticallyin-line cross-sectional-reshaping-assembly orifices, but rather, nestedamong them using a scheme similar to that illustrated in FIG. 137.However, if they are based on micro-machines actuators or any otherresilience means placed at the tine tips, then they could either beattached vertically in-line as part of each cross-sectional-reshapingassembly or disposed on independent tine assemblies. In either case,micro-machine type actuators could be entirely contained at the distaltip of the tines next to the hairs they're responsible for centering.Wherever centering guides are placed on separate tine assemblies fromthe vertically in-line orifices which they serve, they will likely havetheir own dropped-down nesting pattern as illustrated by FIG. 137 andpreviously described with reference to imparting independent movement tocarving orifices. Although less likely, centering guides might be placedon the stationary walls of the hair channel, for example on the leftwall.

Referring to 131, centering guides will function best when one pair 131Dis placed above the processing orifices and another pair 131E below.However, centering guides placed above carving orifices might sometimesbe redundant because the carving orifices function as centering guidesthemselves when carving hairs with diameters greater than their own.

Hair centering guides will likely contact the hair fibers with alow-friction surface, such as a Teflon coating, and will likely haverounded beveled or even downward funneling smooth edges. In fact, saidcentering guides may even be configured as some type of opposing rollermeans.

Since the centering guides are in contact with hairs that have coatingson their surfaces, small shavings of said coating might rub off andbuild up on the guides. To prevent cumulative buildup, in addition toexposing the guides to vacuum currents and squirted cleaning fluids fromthe left wall, the guides might be temporarily retracted from the hairsurfaces and moved over a parallel surface that serves to scrape themclean. Of course, this means that a given pair of guides wouldtemporarily stop centering when they're moved out of contact with theirhair. To remedy this, centering-guide pairs could be deployed invertical stacks of at least two pairs at each region along the hair thatneeds to be centered. When one pair is retracted, another stacked pairwould take over. Since centering guides will likely be placed both aboveand below the in-line processing orifices, there may be two such stacksused.

A similar option of keeping the centering guides clean is to limit theircontact with the hairs. For example, the lower centering guides mightonly contact a hair for a fraction of a second at the start oflengthwise pull-through and, then, retract before the coated portions ofeach hair reach them. At this point, the presence of other mechanismssuch as rollers placed under the processing stack could help the hairremain centered.

Further Tine Assembly Simplification by Consolidation

Referring to FIG. 141, a top perspective view of two consolidated tineassemblies, the cross-sectional reshaping system can be furthersimplified by consolidating all orifices on the same side, but withdifferent cross-sectional shapes or diameters, onto a singleconnectivity-bridge tine assembly. For example, all left orifice halveshave been placed on tine-assembly 134A and all left halves on tineassembly 134B. Based on the cross-sectional shape and diameter desired,the appropriate set of vertically in-line reshaping orifices could bemoved into alignment with the left wall fluid outputs. This consolidatedconfiguration simplifies movement and reduces the number oftine-assemblies involved, at the expense of requiring several differentin-line orifice assemblies to move at once. Each processing cycle, theentire right-side tine assembly 134B and the several vertically in-lineorifice sets on it would have to move together.

Further still, using micro-machines, all orifices and hair centeringguides could be placed on just two consolidated connectivity-bridgeassemblies, one for the left half the other the right. Micro-machineswill not only allow the independent flexibly yielding nature needed forthe centering guides, but also, the independent movement needed to movethe carving orifices away from the hair before the coating orifices. Asmentioned before with reference to the attachment system, the use ofmicro-machines reduces the complexity of tine-assembly movement,sometimes obviating the need for tine movement entirely by localizingpart movement to only the functional area of a hair handler that isdirectly in contact with a hair. Thus, referring to FIG. 141, theconsolidated tine assemblies 134A and 134B would only have to move intoalignment with the left wall once per user session. During the manyprocessing cycles in a session, they could remain stationary using onlythe localized movement, provided by the micro-machines, to pinch andrelease the orifice halves.

To further reduce tine-assembly movement in the consolidated-tineconfiguration, multiple vertically in-line fluid supply outputs andvacuum intake clusters could be placed longitudinally along the lengthof the left wall. In other words, the system would have the familiar setof left wall functional structures duplicated at several points spacedlongitudinally down an extended length left wall. In such aconfiguration, the tine-assembly movement could be limited strictly toside-to-side movement because all vertically in-line orifice sets wouldalways be laterally in-line with the left wall regions which they canplug into simply by being moved sideways. Hairs would be brought to adifferent longitudinal position along the hair channel depending on theorifice set currently in use. Since there would be unused orifice sets,such a system would face the problem of either wasting processing fluidsor having to turn off the left wall fluid output stacks not in use. Whathas been said about placing micro-machines on a consolidated-tineassembly can be extended to placing them on a hair channel wall.

Example Reshaping Sequence

A likely processing sequence for changing the cross-sectional shape anddiameter of a hair is as follows. Note that the frame of reference ofthe following steps is a point on hair as it is pulled lengthwisethrough the following series of orifices from highest to lowest. All orseveral of these steps maybe performed on different points of singlehair simultaneously.

-   -   1. Highest level: A hair goes through encircling razor-ring        orifice type pincher.    -   2. Next highest level: A hair has structural keratin applied to        it by coating application orifice type pincher.    -   3. Next lowest level: A slightly wider concentric orifice is        used. With it, hair is coated in a temporary protective wax        coating that will harden fast holding the structural keratin        coating in place against the hair as said keratin coating fuses        with the native keratin of the hair.    -   4. Lowest level: A cooling liquid (or gas) is applied to the        temporary wax coating instantly hardening it. Technically,        applying cooling fluid should be considered a type of coating        application, and thus, is done by coating application orifices.    -   Note: Steps 3 and/or 4 might be skipped if the structural        coating fluid is or can become sufficiently hard on its own        immediately after the coated portion of hair exits the        application orifice. Perhaps, this could occur by cooling of        said structural keratin coating.    -   5. Removal of wax protectant: Just as the wax protectant used in        the hair extension attachment process needs to be removed, the        wax protectant applied during the cross-sectional reshaping        process does too. A likely way to do this is to apply hot oil to        the hair, which will dissolve the wax. The hot oil itself could        then be washed off with water and detergent. Of course, a device        similar to the hair extension remover, previously described,        would be perfect for such a process. Note: This step occurs        after the hairs have been waiting on the head a few minutes. It        is NOT performed simultaneously with steps 1-4 nor by the        vertically in-line orifices used in said steps.

Somewhere among the above outputs, on the left wall, could be one ormore vacuum intakes to dispose of shavings from the hair, excessstructural keratin, cooling fluid and wax that escapes, especially whenthe pincher orifices open. Referring to FIG. 134, these vacuum intakesmight be placed as horizontal slits between the various fluid outputnozzles 127C or as long vertical slits 134H on either side of them.

Coating Extruded Under Positive Pressure

There are, at least, two approaches to applying a coating to the surfaceof a hair. One is to try to seal the top end of the orifice off bymaking it narrow and perhaps using a resilient material to form a sealaround the entering portion of the hair. With the top end sealed off,any applied fluid is free to be extruded only through the bottom of theorifice. Of course, the hair is being pulled through this same orifice.Thus, the material will be extruded concentrically around the hair. Thegoal should be to match the material extrusion speed with the speed thatthe hair is being drawn through the orifice. Thus, a concentric coatingwill be extruded around the central hair fiber. If two concentricextrusion orifices are placed vertically in-line, they might both havepermanent seals on their top holes. Or the moving extruded material fromthe bottom of the topmost orifice might be fed into the top of the lowerorifice in such a tight manner that said moving extruded material itselfforms a temporary seal in the top of the lower orifice. In most cases,this concentric extrusion approach is relatively technicallychallenging.

Coating Simply Sticks to Hair Surface

A simpler approach would be to use a coating fluid delivered by acombination of very low pressure and capillary action through the supplychannels and orifice interior. Said fluid is so viscous and deliveredunder such low pressure that it fills up the interior of each coatingapplication orifice, but cannot overcome capillary action within theorifice, and lack thereof outside, in order to escape from the orificeby itself. Ideally, the fluid should be introduced into the interior ofthe orifice chamber by an output nozzle that has a relatively largediameter or cross-sectional area in comparison to any open area theorifice has around the hair in its interior. The coating fluid shouldhave a great enough affinity for the surface of the hair that it sticksto said hair and is pulled from said orifice on the surface of the hair.The lowest (nearest the scalp) and final cross-section of the orificeencountered by the hair is likely narrower than the more centralportions of the orifice. It is this final cross-section's purpose toimpart a final cross-sectional shape and diameter to the fluid coatingas it leaves. The coating is viscous enough to hold this shape untileither the hair is coated with a temporary fast hardening coating, suchas wax, most likely a fraction of a second later or the structuralcoating hardens itself in a fast manner. In the latter case, thestructural keratin itself could be hardened by immediate application ofa cooling liquid or gas upon exiting the orifice, perhaps, obviating theneed for the protective wax coating. In this case, it is likely that thestructural keratin had been warmed somewhat itself before application tothe hair in order to decrease its viscosity.

Of course, a variant process, which relies on actively controlling theflow rate of the liquid coating rather than entirely on low pressure andviscosity to stop the flow, could be considered. Such a variant wouldbe, otherwise, the same relying on the coating sticking to the hair anda lower orifice imparting a final cross-sectional hair shape.

Reduce Tight Turns for Exiting Hairs

During the hair cross-sectional reshaping process, the hair is pulledlengthwise downward through the vertically in-line reshaping orifices byvirtue of the pullback and/or bend-under means acting on it. Thispresents a problem because these systems must be designed to allowaccess close to the scalp, which necessitates that the hair follow apath made up of relatively sharp corners during pullback and bend-under.These sharp corners will typically be acceptable in the hair extensionattachment embodiment. However, sharp corners might disturb thestill-soft hair coatings applied by the hair cross-sectional reshapingembodiment. Naturally, we can take efforts to lessen the damage anysharp corners may cause by making them rounded and slippery, ideally,perhaps using rollers on such surfaces if feasible. In particular, wewill want to make sure that the surfaces of the lowest centering guides,the pullback means, and the connectivity bridge area over the bend-underbelts are all smooth and rounded. However, corners with smooth androunded surfaces, might not be able to completely counter the effects oftight turns in path. Thus, the ideal embodiment should have a way ofobviating tight turns in a hair's exit path while still allowing thesystem to access the hairs close to the scalp.

The best way to both obviate tight turns and still allow access close tothe scalp is to cause the processing stack 142A to elevate away from thescalp 430, as shown in FIG. 142, after the hairs 41D are chambered intheir vertically in-line reshaping orifices 142D. As such, the firstlengths of hair pulled through said orifices are not pulled by thepullback or bend-under systems, but rather, by the stack elevationsystem 142F. This stack elevation is most likely achieved by mountingthe cross-sectional reshaping stack on its belt buckle 76G using anassembly 142F that allows the stack to elevate relative to the beltbuckle while the belt buckle itself remains the same distance over thescalp at all times.

Once the reshaping stack is elevated, perhaps several centimeters overthe scalp, it will be possible for the pullback and bend-under systemsto guide the exiting hairs along a path made up of much wider-radiuscorners. Of course, to realize this situation, the pullback andbend-under systems have to be configured somewhat differentlythemselves.

First of all, the pullback system should be configured of smooth surfaceguides, ideally rollers, placed underneath the reshaping stack to guidethe exiting hairs around gentle corners on their way back to thebend-under system. Before the reshaping stack is elevated away from thescalp, there is not much room for the smooth surface pullback guides orrollers under it. Thus, while the stack is near the scalp, these guidesmust be stored elsewhere and brought into position under the reshapingstack only while it is elevated. There are various places where apullback-guide-support assembly 142G could be stored while not in use,and various ways it could be moved into position under the processingstack. For example, said assembly and the guides within it could swingdown from recessed portions in bottom of the processing stack, likelanding gear on an aircraft. Alternatively, said assembly could bepositioned to the side, back, or front of the reshaping stack mostlikely on the top surface of the belt buckle and slid into positionlaterally or longitudinally, respectively. Finally, a combination ofthese things used together might be used.

Referring to FIG. 143, we see that it represents FIG. 142 at a laterpoint in time after the pullback system comprised of guides 143C and,optionally 143D, has been actuated backward and the exiting hairs 41Dhave been engaged by the bend-under system 2E. Optionally, asmooth-surface guide 143B remains stationary underneath and veryslightly behind the center of the vertically in-line processing orifices142D to lessen the stresses and rubbing against the lowest haircentering guides. Optionally, a guide 143A can be placed underneath andvery slightly in front of the center of the vertically in-lineprocessing orifices 142D to help lessen the stresses and rubbing againstthe lowest hair centering guides. Although both guides 143A and 143B areoptional, guide 143B is more strongly recommended. At least one smoothsurface guide 143C serves the function of a pullback hook and, as such,is moved back towards the bend-under system 2E. Optionally, at least oneother smooth surface guide 143F serves as a leading protecting edge ofthe connectivity bridges in the belt buckle and/or bend-under system.Alternatively, a functional equivalent of this can be achieved byconfiguring the moving pullback system with two smooth surface guides onboth forward and rearward sides of the exiting hairs as shown by theinclusion of the optional guide 143D.

In all cases, the smooth surface guides are most ideally rollers.Ideally, these rollers will either be made up of independent passive(moved only by hairs in contact with it) segments, one for each channelor a single roller that is actively driven at the same linear speed anddirection that the hairs are moving over its surface. Note: By passiverollers, we mean rotated only by exiting hairs moving over theirsurface. By actively driven, we mean rotation is driven by a mechanicalmechanism.

At the end of each processing cycle, lasting about second or less, thewhole process must reverse so that the reshaping stack can descendtowards the scalp and isolate a new batch of hairs in its chambers. Mostideally, the reshaping stack would be split into two stacks, one thatelevates, the other that doesn't. In this situation, the portions of thereshaping stack responsible for isolating individual scalp hairs wouldnot elevate, but rather, remain near the scalp so that they could beworking while the reshaping orifices were elevated.

Potentially, this scheme of elevating and introducing smooth-surfacepullback guides could be used with any processing-stack configurationincluding the hair extension attachment stack. In fact, it can beconsidered as an alternative means of either hair pullback, bend-under,or both. In fact, more generally it could be considered a means ofpreventing hair buildup in front of an obstruction associated with theprocessing system. This is to say that if the processing stack elevateshigh enough, and the hairs it deals with are short enough, no otherbend-under means would be necessary. Also, one should note that theother means of pullback and bend-under discussed, herein, could beapplied to this system instead of the exact guide configurationdescribed above. For example, rather than moving pullback rollersbackwards themselves, they might remain in place but be actively rotatedso that they pull hairs into themselves and push said hairs out underthemselves.

Summary of Cross-Sectional Process Variants

There are different possible variations of the hair sculpting andcoating methods described above. The methods previously described aboveare those preferred for on-head scalp hair processing. However, thereare other methods and all methods can be adapted for the alternativepurpose of applying concentric coatings during a factory fiber extrusionmanufacturing process. The following catalogs different approaches,which might be, used both for processing scalp hairs and applyingconcentric coatings during a factory manufacturing process forartificial hairs:

Centering Within Orifices During Extrusion

The center of the hair could be forced to coincide with the center ofthe processing orifices it passes through by one of the followingcentering mechanisms:

-Where the central fiber is centered in orifices . . .

-   -   - . . . by a stretchable skirt, around the orifice and in        contact with the hair fiber so as to center it, that uniformly        expands around the fiber going through it.    -   . . . by a spring-mounted individual mechanical supports that        converge towards the center point of the each fiber. Such a        support is most likely made up of several gores that together        form a conical structure. The gores likely have a spring-like        quality that pushes them inward to meet at a central point but        allows them to yield outward to accommodate a hair running        through the central axis of the orifice which they serve. They        might have a flat smooth surfaces or perhaps rollers at their        tips in contact with the hair.    -   -- . . . by two spring mounted, or otherwise resilient,        mechanical supports converging on the hair from opposite sides        and that contact the hair with notches whose shapes are mirror        images of each other and should be configured as two opposing        mirror-image pinchers whose notches, often V-shaped, funnel or        converge in cross-section with increased lateral distance from        their leading ends between which the hair cross-section will be        held.

This description includes both tine-mounted supports with flexibilityjoints and micro-machine type supports.

-   -   -- . . . by an adjustable iris setup in which the hair        cross-section will get held:

-   The iris is forced to adjust by the force of the hair pushing on it.    -   -- . . . by placing the entrance of a second orifice so close to        the exit of a first (<1 mm) that the exiting fiber remains stiff        and, thus, centered in the second orifice by the first.        Approaches to Adding Keratin-Like Materials to Natural Scalp        Hairs.

1. Concentric Coating of Hair only:

-   -   Concentric-only coating is when coating is added only to hair        surfaces, but coating is stopped when the tip of a hair exits        the application system. The following catalogs some        concentric-only coating variants:    -   -Coating is stopped because a sensor detects that the length of        the hair has been exceeded.        -   --Said sensor causes the system to stop extruding coating            material        -   --Said sensor causes the system to trigger a cutter that            clips any coating material that trails the hair tip.    -   -Coating is stopped because the pressure at which the coating        material is extruded into the interior of extrusion orifice is        not great enough to exit said orifice. The coating material can        only exit if it sticks to a hair surface as it is pulled through        the orifice.    -   -The coating material might exit the orifice but it is not        structurally stable unless it is coating the surfaces of a hair.        Thus, if the coating leaves the orifice without a hair, it gets        pulled away by vacuum, perhaps before it even reaches the wax        coating orifice.        -   --The coating material is structurally unstable unless            coating a hair, in part, because only enough coating            material is supplied to the extrusion orifice and only fast            enough to coat a hair, not to form a new length of fiber via            extrusion

2. Formation of Additional Hair Fiber Length Via Extrusion:

-   -   Not only should the keratin-like material be used to coat        natural scalp hairs, but when the tip of a hair exits the        application system the coating extrusion is continued, no longer        as a concentric ring coating, but as the extrusion of a full        diameter hair shaft. Thus, the extruded material extends the        length of each natural hair.        Specifics Regarding Hair Attributes Achieved Through Processing.        Hair Curliness Changing in Response to New Hair Cross-Section

Thiols or other chemicals capable of breaking disulfide bonds could beapplied to the hair in its natural state (not in curlers, coated withwax-like substance or otherwise fixated) after hair cross-sectionalsculpting. When a hair is given a new cross-section by sculpting, theinternal forces that determine its degree of curliness would be expectedto change. However, the hair's original internal protein molecules will,in some cases, still be locked together largely in the same manner thatthey were before hair shaft sculpting. Application of disulfide-breakingchemicals will allow the molecules to reorganize themselves inaccordance with the new stresses they are experiencing. Thus, if a haircross-section is made rounder, it will tend to reorganize its moleculesin a manner that encourages straightness. Likewise, if a haircross-section is made more oblong, it will tend to reorganize itsmolecules in a manner that encourages greater waviness or curliness. Inother words, when a hair cross-section is made more oblong, applicationof perm chemicals without curlers could produce increased curliness,anyway. Without cross-sectional hair sculpting, application of permchemicals without curlers would probably either do nothing or make thehair straighter.

When using this disulfide bond reorganization scheme, it is probablybest to configure the process so that the hair dries before thedisulfide-breaking chemicals are neutralized. Since all hair tends tostraighten out when soaking wet, the hair will not experience the trueeffect of its new cross-section until somewhat dry. Thus, by exposingthe hair to disulfide-breaking chemicals during the drying process,molecular reorganization will be possible during the drying process. Inturn, the molecules will organize in manner consistent with the internalforces present in dry hair, not wet hair. To summarize, the sequence ofapplication would be hair cross-sectional sculpting by carving and/orcoating, removal of any temporary protective coating, application ofdisulfide-breaking chemicals to unfixated hair, letting hair dry withsaid chemicals on them. Of course, an alternative approach is to simplyestimate the waviness that corresponds to a particular cross-sectionalhair shape and fixate the hair in a manner consistent with thiswaviness. In this case, the disulfide-breaking chemicals could beneutralized while still wet.

There are several possible ways to fixate hair in the wavy manner thatcorresponds to its particular cross-sectional shape. The first is to useconventional external fixation devices, like curlers, with conventionaldisulfide-breaking chemicals, like perm solutions and, of course, toapply them in the conventional manner. A second way to fixate hair is toapply a disulfide-breaking chemical to the surface of each hair and thencoat each hair with a temporary protective coating, like a wax-likesubstance. This wax-like substance could then be curled or crimped intothe appropriate shape, which would hold the hairs in place without anyexternal fixation devices, such as curlers. The disulfide-breakingchemical and protective coating could be applied during cross-sectionalhair reshaping. In which case, the disulfide-breaking chemical could beone and the same as that mixed in with the keratin-type coating to keepit dissolved. Alternatively, additional disulfide-breaking chemicalcould be added directly to the hair's surface during cross-sectionalhair reshaping. In either case, under the influences ofdisulfide-breaking chemicals, the keratin-type coating would tend tomeld with the surface of the hair, and the entire hair's proteinstructure would soften allowing it to take on a new degree of curlinesscorresponding to its new cross-sectional shape. Likewise, the temporaryprotective coating, used for fixation, would likely be the same oneapplied for the purpose of cross-sectional reshaping.

During the fixation period, chemical reorganization means that the hairmight not only be soft enough to change its shape but, most likely, toactually meld with the structural keratin-type coating applied to it.Chemically speaking, this includes formation of disulfide bonds betweenthe native hair keratin and the keratin-type coating. Further still, itmight even include a small degree of volumetric mixing of the two. Assuch, the protective coating would be necessary to support the hairduring this weakened time.

It is possible that fixation might not always be necessary which mightmake a wax-like temporary protective coating something that could beavoided so long as the structural keratin material remains undisturbedon the hair while it chemically hardens. One way to do this is toformulate the structural keratin-like coating so that it becomes fairlysolid upon cooling. Of course, cooling alone probably would not providethe long-term stability we desire. Thus, this coating might be designedso that when it is cooled far below room-temperature it hardens, butwhen allowed to re-warm to room-temperature, it softens enough to allowchemical hardening to take place via a mechanism such as the oxygen inthe air causing thiol-reduced disulfide bonds to re-establish. Remember,reducing agents in the coating will likely leach over to the native hairkeratin causing it to soften and little, thus, allowing melding of thecoating with the native hair. During this fragile re-melt period, thehairs will need to be protected from sticking together and perhaps evendeforming.

To achieve this, we could revert back to the wax-like coating, which iscapable of even holding somewhat liquid coatings to the surface of thehair. In addition to, or instead of, a wax-like protectant, we might beable to use a thick liquid or gel that doesn't harden, but acts as aprotectant by virtue of its lubricity and intrinsic physical structure.Said liquid protectant ideally will have affinity for the keratin-likecoating on the hairs, however, its presence would keep adjacent coatedhead hairs from sticking together, just as cooking oil keeps food fromsticking to the pan. Also, the lubricity of this coating will help hairsexit from the reshaping system stack with so little friction that theircoating isn't rubbed off or distorted even if the hairs are expected tobend around an object on their way out. Of course, one of the greatestadvantages of using a non-hardening protectant is that it can simply bewashed off once the structural coating's hardening is complete. Finally,we should note that the liquid or gel protectant could serve thesimultaneous purpose of a coolant for the structural coating or anyother type of coating applied prior to it.

Coating Affecting Hair Surface Properties

Rapid Cooling to Change Surface Texture

Structural keratin-like coating of a hair followed by passing the hairthrough an orifice, or output nozzle, that exposes it to a rapid changein temperature which causes the applied coating to wrinkle, thereby,giving the hair a rougher less light reflective texture. This rapidcooling can be achieved by use of a cool liquid or gas. Thistemperature-induced wrinkling can be calibrated to produce the precisesurface texture desired.

Note: Using a structural keratin-like material that can thoroughlyre-melt before hardening permanently by a chemical reaction or usingonly a non-solidifying protectant will encourage surface-texturewrinkling generated during a rapid cooling to smooth out. Doing theopposites will encourage a rougher surface texture for a less shiny moremuted hair appearance.

Imparting Texture Through Surface to Surface Contact

Structural keratin-like coating of a hair followed by passing the hairthrough an orifice that exposes it to a textured, perhaps vibrating,surface in order to impart (imprint or abrade) a rough less lightreflective texture on the surface of the coated hair. Said texturedsurface might be configured as the familiar in-line orifice with twohalves or in an similar manner to the textured moving-cylinder extrusionroller pairs described in the artificial hair manufacturing section. Therollers could transfer the texture imprinted on their inner-surfaces tothe hair fiber's coating, whether the coating was applied before orduring said fiber's movement through said rollers. Of course, any suchuse of the moving-cylinder approach would have to be modified so thatthe cylinder pairs can fit into the multiple parallel processing areasof the connectivity-bridge tine configuration used in the hair-reshapingsystem.

Structural Coatings as a Way to Control Hair Color

The keratin-like structural coating might have a custom color thatmatches the hair. Where this color is custom-produced by mixingcomponent colors. The component colors can be mixed as pure colorantsand then introduced to the structural coating. Or the structural coatingcan be produced in several standard component colors which are thenmixed together to produce the final custom color. The mixing can occuranywhere between the component supply reservoirs and the output nozzles.The colors could be of a transparent nature that allows the natural haircolor to influence the appearance of the hair. Alternatively, the colorscould be completely opaque such that they completely hide the naturalcolor of the hair shaft and produce whatever artificial color isdesired.

Structural Coatings Additives as a Way to Control Hair Texture

In an analogous manner to colorants, particles could be added to thecoating to influence its texture. Such particles might help give thehair a rough less light reflective texture.

Alternative Hair Cross-Section Modification Means

In addition to razor-edge carving and coating, some additional ways ofhair cross-sectional modification are catalogued below. Most likely,these methods would be employed themselves using some type of orificethat the hairs are drawn through during processing:

Hair maybe carved away by various means:

-Mechanical carving/cutting by razor edge

-Mechanical grinding or abrasion

-   -   --Where said grinding is vibrational

-Destruction by electromagnetic energy

-   -   --Laser vaporizing/burning (especially excimer)        -   ---Laser directed tangentially on a plane        -   ---Laser directed in a cone formation with a diameter shield        -   ---Laser directed parallel to hair shaft    -   --Electron beam vaporizing/burning        Hair maybe reshaped with pressure by various means:

-Mechanical melting & reforming of shape

-Mechanical pressure to reform from the side (maybe combined with heat)

-Mechanical stretching to reform by putting direction means

Note: Most of the above-mentioned pressure-reshaping means work bypulling the hair through a narrowing conical orifice which acts like adie that the hair is drawn or extruded through in a similar manner asthat used in the manufacture of metal wire. * If using draw-throughorifice/die-approach, heating hair to soften, before or duringpull-through, or applying disulfide-breaking chemicals ahead of timecould be a beneficial adjunct.

Alternative Hair Cross-Section Modification Means Examples

If a laser, such as an UV excimer laser, were used to carve haircross-sections, its light would be supplied in a similar manner to theUV adhesive-curing laser, previously described. However, it would, mostlikely, output its light from the two halves of an orifice that closearound each hair. These halves would likely have largely semi-circularshapes. Ideally, these halves would serve as optical outputs capable ofdirecting their light either along a cylinder with walls largelyparallel to the surface of the hair, a cone that both encircles andslants towards the hair shaft's center, or along many lines in a largelyflat plane each with angles tangent to the outer surface of the hair'scross-section. In all cases, the goal is to aim light superficially atthe surface of the hair so that if preferentially carves only the mostprotruding surfaces of the hair while leaving the recessed areasuntouched.

Using an abrasive to carve the hair surface is another alternative.Naturally, like the laser, the abrasive would be positioned in twohalves surrounding the hair. Most likely, the halves would besemi-circular in shape. However, neither a laser nor abrasive is themost preferred way to carve a hair's cross-section, but rather, arealternatives to the encircling razor ring.

Miscellaneous Notes on Hair Cross-Sectional Reshaping

-   -   *We have already discussed that disulfide-reducing chemicals can        redissolve a concentric coating layer and also the hair itself        causing them to merge as one while they are being held together        and protected by an outer temporary protective coating layer        such as wax.    -   --To further this melding process, perhaps use laser or light        energy, or a mechanical means, to cut holes through the hair        shafts in order to allow the added keratin coating to actually        penetrate the hair shaft. Of course, such a hole-cutting means        would likely be deployed on tines and positioned in-line with        the reshaping orifices.    -   *The centering guides (and perhaps pushout and pullback        actuators too) should likely have very smooth funneling surfaces        that may even have indentations, the shape and size of a hair        cross-section semi-circle, at their rearmost hair contact edges.        Ideally, these smooth surfaces through capillary action and/or a        hydrophilic nature would encourage the hair to hydroplane along        their surface.    -   *The coating coolants should likely be formulated with an        anti-freeze that allows its temperature to be made extremely        low, thereby, allowing it to work faster.    -   *Cooling fluid likely applied using a coating orifice in        preference to a spraying nozzles so that it can be applied in        the way that least disrupts coatings previously applied to a        hair's surface. However, spraying nozzles are an option.    -   *Cleaning nozzles maybe present on the left wall in the        reshaping system in the same way they are likely to be in the        attachment system, as previously described.    -   *Many of the concepts useful in the Hair Extension Factory        Manufacturing section can be applied to hair-cross-sectional        reshaping and vice versa. For example, the chemical coatings and        chemical hair fiber formulations used in factory manufacturing        can usually be used as structural coatings for        hair-cross-sectional reshaping. Likewise, many of the physical        structures, such as the moving-cylinder spinneret hole approach,        can be applied. Similarly, when we speak of structural keratin        materials that can be used as coatings, it should be understood        that keratin-like materials might be substituted.    -   *Whenever we speak of wax coatings, such as for temporary        protective coatings and for temporary fixation purposes, we        should realize that any wax-like coating could be substituted        whether it is technically a wax or not. By wax-like, we mean        something that softens when heated and hardens when cooled.    -   *In the attachment system, the processing area is more        specifically called the attachment area. Since other variant        systems, used for purposes other than attaching hair extensions,        are analogous to the attachment system, what's true for the        attachment area in the attachment system should usually be true        for the processing areas of the other types of systems. For        example, the processing area of the        cross-sectional-hair-reshaping system could be referred to as        the reshaping area, and is supplied with scalp hairs in a        similar manner to the attachment area. The column of vertically        in-line reshaping orifices are a form of processing chamber        homologous to the processing chambers in the attachment system        called attachment chambers. Thus, in discussions of the support        equipment, such as the tensioning hair straightener,        connectivity-bridge-bend-under system, and belt buckle, what        applies to the attachment stack and its attachment area applies        in an analogous manner to any processing stack and its        processing areas and chambers. Types of processing systems that        perform functions other than hair extension attachment include        those that, apply coatings to the surface of hairs, reshape hair        cross-sections, automatically cut scalp hairs to a controlled        length, and those that implant and remove hair implants into and        from the scalp.    -   *The various orifices used for cross-sectional reshaping require        extremely tight tolerances sometimes on the order of less than        one micron. This is especially true of the razor-rimmed carving        orifices whose razor edge is so small it most likely must be        produced without the aid of grinding equipment. Thus, for all        orifice types coating-types included, but particularly those        involved in carving, extremely precise manufacturing methods        must be used. The most promising method involves electro-forming        the orifice-halves on a template which itself was produced by        ion-beam milling. The orifice-halves would likely be formed out        of a metal such as nickel. Thus, in order to preserve the        sharpness of the razor-rimmed cutting edge, vapor deposition of        a diamond-like coating onto the nickel is advisable.        3. Implant and Remove Surgical Hair Implants        Use of Surgical Hair Implants        Conventional Surgical Hair Implants

By conventional surgical hair implants, we mean those artificial devicesthat. have anchors that allow a hair fiber, real or artificial, to beanchored into the dermis. In contrast, hair transplants involvetransplanting living human follicles onto the head.

There are many problems with hair implants. First, since they don'tgrow, the wearer is typically confined to a single hairstyle.Additionally, most of the people with implants, also, have natural hairon their heads of approximately the same length. Thus, during haircuts,great care has to be taken to make sure only the growing natural hair iscut. If implanted hair is cut, it will not grow back. Consequently,small hair-cutting mistakes can have a cumulative effect over time.Furthermore, since implanted hairs don't grow, over the years they tendto wear out. Undesirably, this will necessitate their eventual removal.Finally, the hair fibers used in implants need to be composed of someorganic material in order to look natural. This material can be naturalhuman hair harvested from a donor's head or artificial fibers fabricatedout of a plastic. However, in both cases, the wearer's immune system ishighly likely to reject organic material, which it considers non-self.This will likely lead to itching and inflammation around each implantsite which will necessitate their eventual removal.

Solution to Conventional Implants

To solve the problems of conventional implants we would first have touse extremely short hair implants, perhaps, with less than 2 centimetersof fiber above the scalp. This way there's no way that they couldaccidentally get cut during haircuts. Second, we could eithermanufacture them out of or coat them with an inert inorganic material.For example, a thin diamond-like coating, applied to the surface of anorganic fiber using vapor chemical deposition, could be used to do this.This would make it nearly impossible for the implants to wear out. As anadded benefit, the inorganic surface of said implant would most likelyprevent the immune system from reacting with it. In fact, if we weren'tconcerned about them wearing out or being cut, we could configurefull-length implants whose tips were inorganic, or coated as such, butwhose longer cosmetic fiber portions were entirely organic. Such ascheme would probably prevent the immune system from reacting with them,but such fibers would still wear out. (Note: The entire fiber could becoated with inorganic material to prevent it from wearing out. However,this would preclude entirely normal hairstyling, and such fibers couldstill get cut accidentally.)

Up until this point, it seems that we have to make a choice betweenimplant fibers that will wear out and short unnatural-looking inorganicimplant fibers. The solution is simple. Implant the short, long-lasting,non-allergenic inorganic fibers for use as anchors. Finally, use thehair extension attachment system, previously described, to attachtemporary cosmetic hair extensions to them. If the hair extensions wearout or are accidentally cut, they must simply be removed using the hairextension removal process, previously described. The anchor implantsremain, and a fresh set of cosmetic hair extensions can be applied tothem. Also, the wearer is free to change his hairstyle whenever hedesires by having the old cosmetic hair extensions removed and new batchapplied.

Finally, it should be noted that using inorganic implant anchors is notnecessarily the only way this invention can be applied. Most anymaterial that doesn't trigger the body's immune response might be usedto make implantable anchors. The key idea is that the cosmeticappearance of the implant anchors doesn't matter because the cosmetichair extensions will later be attached to them. For example, a proteinfrom someone's body, such as his own hair keratin, might be used to formthe implant anchors.

Using Processing Stack Technology for Hair Implant Surgery

Processing Stack Modifications Needed to Implant Hair Implants

A modified version of the hair extension attachment system could beconfigured to implant hair implants into the skin. Such a system wouldassume that many patients still have some natural hair. Thus, thetensioning hair straightener, the front funneling portions of the hairchannels, and some hair handlers like the pushback gates, all aspreviously described in the hair extension attachment system, wouldlikely remain. These structures could be used to control the position ofthe person's natural scalp hairs, although we won't be attachinganything to said scalp hairs or changing them in anyway. The variousmethods of storing and loading cosmetic hair extensions into theprocessing area can be adapted for the storing and loading of hairimplants into their processing areas. Of course, since hair implantsoften have pellet-like anchors at their bases, the loading system verylikely will manipulate these pellet-like anchors directly in preferenceto the fibrous portions.

When speaking of processing chambers with reference to the surgical hairimplantation system, we are referring to a needle or other means capableof being actuated and driving implants beneath the surface of the skin.The needle, or other sub-dermal actuation means, should be considered ahomologous structure to the attachment chambers in the previouslydescribed hair extension attachment system and to the in-line processingorifices in the previously described hair cross-sectional reshapingsystem. Of course, this needle, or more broadly sub-dermal actuationmeans, will be loaded in an analogous manner to said homologousstructures. For example, such a needle, or hollow chamber, will likelyeither have a slit in its side to allow loading or be loaded from thetop. After a superficial loading of the implant into the upper-regionsof the chamber, it is likely that a plunger, or functionally equivalentmeans like pressurized air, will be actuated down into said chamberpushing said loaded implant down with it. Said chamber will likelynarrow or have an internal rim that catches the implant as a specificpoint in the chamber. However, this catch point shouldn't be an absolutebarrier. Either the implant's end should be able to be forced past itwith increased pressure of the plunger, or it should be a movableobstacle.

Forcing the implant past the obstacle could be made possible by makingthe obstacle's position on the interior wall of the chamber flexible bycutting slits in the chamber wall that would allow this. This would beparticularly true if said obstacle was position at the freest end of along tab-like structure formed by three intersecting cuts in the wall.Of course, to encourage flexing of said tab-like structure, the obstacleon it might have a somewhat tapered or ramp-like shape towards thedirection from which the implant will come. Alternatively, the obstaclemight just be made flexible itself by being configured in a spring-likeshape such as an arch or from a flexible material.

Alternatively, the obstacle could be made movable by some exterioractuator. For example, attaching an extremely thin and strong fiber toit that can be pulled could externally actuate the flexible tab-likestructure. Said fiber might be placed in the interior or exterior of thechamber. Alternatively, the obstacle can be made movable by positioningan external member through a hole or slit in the side of the chamber.The obstacle could be moved itself by moving the external member as awhole. Said external member is likely configured with an L-shape wherethe foot of said L-shape is inserted to serve as the obstacle. Both theextremely strong fiber and the L-shaped external member might conform soclosely to the exterior of said chamber that they could be forcedsub-dermally with it. Either the fiber or external member might beactuated by constructing them, at least partially, out of a materialthat changes its shape in response to electric currents. Further still,the fiber and external member might both be entirely obviated byconstructing the obstacle itself or a portion the sub-dermal actuationchamber itself out of such a material.

With the implant chambered in the sub-dermal actuation chamber, saidchamber is ready to be actuated down into the human skin. Said chamberpierces the skin by virtue of being the functional equivalent of aneedle-itself or by the end of the implant having a sufficiently sharppoint. Once at the correct depth beneath the skin surface, if necessary,the implant is moved past the obstacle holding it by actuation of thechamber's internal plunger means and pushed out the end of the chamber.While the plunger remains extended, the walls the chamber should beretracted out the skin, thereby, leaving the implant underneath theskin's surface.

The system will likely have a bend-under means, like that described forthe hair extension attachment embodiment, operating. This will allow theperson's long natural hairs, and any implants if long enough to need it,easy passage under the connectivity-bridges of the system.

Preventing Damage to Remaining Hair Follicles

Of course, for maximum rapidity, this system is best configured as atine-based system with multiple channels in parallel. This would meanthat multiple sub-dermal actuation chambers, or needles, would be heldlargely perpendicular to the human skin directly over parallelprocessing areas. We would probably limit the number of needles perprocessing area to one because, being performed only once in a person'slife, this operation does not have to be as fast as hair extensionattachment. The scalp-hair tops can be held aside from these processingareas at any given moment. This is made possible by the forward tensionof the tensioning hair straightener, the backward tension of thebend-under system, and the hair handler's ability to close out scalphairs from said processing areas. Thus, the processing areas arerelatively free of obstructions just as if someone were parting the hairwith his fingers in these regions.

However, there still are follicles and hair shaft bases that we wouldrather not hit with a needle. So that the sub-dermal actuation chambersare only forced into the skin where there are no follicles or hair-shaftbases beneath them, we could use the following system configuration.First, all sub-dermal actuator chambers, or needles, are attached at thedistal ends of a tine-assembly. Said tine assembly is oscillated backforth either independently of the entire processing stack or as one withthe entire processing stack. At the same ends of these tines, or ends ofan independent parallel tine-assembly layer, are optical sensors thatlook perpendicularly down at the skin along axes parallel to thesub-dermal actuation chambers. The oscillation pattern is such that itcan be known that an optical sensor will sweep over a given area of skina known amount of time before a corresponding sub-dermal actuationchamber. In other words, the needles and sensors take turns being over agiven any point of skin in the processing area. If a sensor doesn'tdetect any obstacles in the way of the single needle, which it serves,said needle would be actuated down into the skin when it reaches thepatch of skin the sensor found clear. However, a detected obstacle willprevent this. You should note that, although parallel sensors andneedles move as a single unit, each needle's actuation is controlledindividually, and each sensor is monitored individually.

The sensors work by detecting a difference between hair follicles, hairshaft bases, and empty skin. The needle must only be forced into regionsof empty skin, which have adequate safety margins from follicles andhair shaft bases. The sensors are based on the assumption that folliclesand hair shaft bases have different optical profiles from empty skin. Toguarantee that this is true, a cream-like preparation could be workedinto the follicles. This cream or fluid is likely a carbon preparationthat absorbs infrared light. Such carbon preparations are already usedin medicine for purposes of laser hair removal. In laser hair removalapplications, they absorb laser energy so as to become hot and kill thehair follicle. Such a preparation would guarantee a distinct opticalprofile for the follicles. However, the use of follicle colorant creamneedn't be limited to those that absorb IR. Perhaps, formulations thatabsorb or reflect other frequencies of light could be used.Nevertheless, due to its ability to penetrate the skin, IR is anexcellent frequency to use. Hair shaft bases might be made opticallydistinct with a coloring agent that selectively colors hairs but not theskin's surface.

Although the sensor system might rely entirely on natural light, it isprobably more likely that an external light source will be attached toor used with the system. Most likely, this light source will be IR.

At some point, the optical sensors will need to convert the light imageinto digital electric currents that a computer can understand. Thisconversion might take place in consolidated sensor components atop theprocessing stack from which wires run to the computer in control of theprocess. On the other hand, fiber optics might be run from sensoroptical inputs to a remote electro-optical conversion system. Thus, thelight would be run to a remote location where it is digitally converted,rather than atop the processing stack. The advantage of this secondapproach is that the conversion apparatus itself could be made largerthan if it had to be placed atop the hair-processing stack.

The systems will likely control and monitor its movement over the scalpprecisely using mechanisms described for the hair extension attachmentsystem. For example, it likely will have wheels rolling over the scalpcapable of monitoring the system movement speed. Further still, thesewheels might be configured with braking capabilities so that they canslow the system down if necessary. As in the hair extension attachmentsystem, hair density can be judged by using hairpresence sensors acrossthe hair channels and comparing the number of hairs to the movementspeed over the scalp. Additionally, this embodiment could employee itsoptical follicle and hair base sensors to facilitate hair densityestimation. In either case, the system could adjust the density of hairimplants that it applies based on this information.

Finally, the independent movement of needle chambers makes it possibleto use depth gauges to guarantee exact skin depth penetration everytime. A depth gauge might be something as simple as a collar or othersuch obstruction on an exterior side of each needle. To further increaseaccuracy and ensure needles always enter the skin at the same angle, theneedle assemblies could be give a slight ability to pivot. A part ofeach needle assembly, most likely flat and concentric to each needleitself, could proceed each needle itself to the skin. Upon contact withthe skin, this part will cause said needle assembly to pivot to theexact, largely perpendicular angle, with the skin desired. Since theactual needle and its proceeding part have a telescopic relationship,being composed of sliding overlapping sections allowing compression, theneedle will continue to move and enter the skin. Of course, the needleangle and depth could be controlled by actively driven mechanisms. Forexample, the pivot that controls the needle angle could be actuated tothe desired angle. Perhaps, this angle might automatically change as theposition on the head changes.

Reverse the Entire Process in Order to Remove Hair Implants

In order to remove hair implants, the entire process can be reversed butwith just a few modifications. During the reversal of the process thesub-dermal actuation chamber, or needle, will be expected to grab theimplant out of the skin, rather than letting go of it. To do this, theobstruction on the interior of the needle needs to be able totemporarily move out of the way of the implant as the needle moves downaround it. This can be achieved in the exact same ways as obstructionmovement is achieved above. The only difference being a ramp-likestructure, if used, should taper towards the bottom of the needle, or inother words, the direction from which the implant will come at it.

Of course, the system has to be configured so that it can locate theimplant and actuate a needle only when it is centered on an implant. Thefirst way this can be done involves the use of the optical sensors asdescribed before. The portions of the implant, especially the portionsof it that anchor it beneath the skin, should have surfaces of anoptically distinct material, most likely in the IR range. This way thesystem can look for each implant's profile and use at least two sides ofthe margin of normal skin around an implant to determine whether it iscentered on said implant. This will also allow the system todiscriminate between natural hairs and implants.

A second way that might be used, in addition to or instead of the sensormethod, involves mechanical needle guides. Of course, we said beforethat the needles would likely be mounted in a pivoting manner and thatthe needle chambers are homologous structures to the attachment chambersand in-line reshaping orifices. Thus, if we use the mechanisms describedin the analogous embodiment to load an orifice, or hook, on the side ofor in-line with, the needle with an in-scalp hair implant's fiberportion, then the needle assembly could slide down along this hair.Since the needle assembly would pivot during this sliding process, theneedle would be perfectly lined up with the implant by the time itreached the skin's surface. The system would, likely also, need sometype of sensor means to differentiate between natural scalp hairs andhair implants.

One way to obviate the need for said sensor means is to first give theperson a sufficiently short haircut and, next, use the hair extensionattachment system to attach hair extensions to all scalp-anchored hairsreal or artificial. After allowing the natural hairs to grow out, use anextremely precise hair-extension-removal system that only removes hairextensions at a minimum distance away from the scalp. It could do thismy not applying solvent below a certain hair length. The much longerhair extensions that remain would only be attached to artificial hairimplants. Configure the automated implant system such that it only hooksits needles onto hairs above a certain length. Thus, the needles wouldonly be hooked onto hair extensions attached to artificial implantanchors and, thus, would only remove artificial implants.

This Device Could be Used to Transplant Hair Follicles

Of course, if living hair follicles could have their follicle portionspelletized or made into small plugs, they could be implanted in theexact same manner as that previously described for non-living implants.With advances being made in culturing hair follicles in vitro, webelieve that industrial processes based on growing hairs out of the bodywill be possible. Such processes would serve as an excellent source forhair follicles that could be pelletized, placed in cartridges, andimplanted in the head using the automated device described herein.

4. Automated Haircutting Processing Stack

Basic Automated Hairstyle Cutting System

In this alternative embodiment, we will describe how the basicprocessing stack design can be adapted for cutting hair with theprofessional precision required to produce attractive hairstyles. In theprior art, there is a device that allows a person to cut his own hair.This device consists of a relatively conventional electric hair trimmermounted in a bracket that holds said trimmer portion a fixed height overthe scalp while at the same time supplying a vacuum source above saidtrimmer portion. The vacuum source both holds hairs straight upward sothat they all get cut at the same length and carries away hairtrimmings. The problem with this system is that it produces a haircut inwhich every hair on the head is cut to the same length, unlike mostprofessional haircuts which have many lengths, and this length islimited to a maximum far below that required for most women'shairstyles. Our processing-stack type system will not have theselimitations. It can cut hairs to different lengths at differentpositions on the head.

First of all, we've said that the processing-stack hair-cutting systemwill be able to vary its cutting length at different positions on thehead. Of course, this requires that its control system is able toascertain its position on the head. This will be possible because thehair-cutting embodiment, like other processing stack embodiments, willusually be guided over the head using a track-guide cap, or functionalequivalent. It may be the normal procedure for the system operator tomove the handle unit over the tracks in a standardized specific order,or to have access to an input device that lets the system's computerknow the nature of an impromptu track-order change. The system computerwill know when the end of a track is reached and a new one begun eitherbecause there is a scalp contact sensor on the handle unit or a fingerswitch that the operator is supposed to trigger between track changes.The system will also have sensors that detect movement speed anddistance over the scalp, like those discussed elsewhere within thisdocument. Combining knowledge of the track number with data about themovement along that track, the system will be able to estimate itsposition on the head. This will allow the system to cut different areasof hair to different lengths. Note: This is the preferred method oflocating unit position on the head. However, the herein-describedhaircutting system will be able to function with any position-locationmeans.

At this point, we could simply configure the processing stack as aconventional tine-based hair trimmer with the unique feature of beingable to elevate and descend relative to the scalp. This would achievebenefits over the prior art in that it could accurately cut differentareas of hair on the scalp different lengths. However, such aconfiguration would still have a maximum hair-cutting length less thanthat required for many women's hairstyles. Thus, we will likely want toimplement a still more sophisticated embodiment.

In this more sophisticated embodiment, the system should be configuredwith the hair isolation and chambering capabilities as described for thehair extension attachment system, using mechanisms described for it,such as the hair handlers or functional equivalents. Just as theattachment system isolated individual hairs and put them into attachmentchambers, the haircutting system will put isolated hairs into homologousstructures that we will call hair-cutting chambers. Unlike theattachment and cross-sectional reshaping systems, which ideally, requirethat only a single scalp hair be put in each processing chamber. Thehaircutting system can be a little more lax and allow a limited numberof hairs per chamber. In fact, the system might very well use oneconsolidated chamber per tine channel that allows many hairs together init. This reduced precision is acceptable in the hair-cutting variantbecause it's fine if many hairs from a small region of the head get cutthe same length. After all, this is what happens when a professionalhairstylist uses scissors. Once the hairs are chambered, we will have ahair handler (most likely moving-tine or micro-machine based andequipped with a sharp cutting edge) slide like the pincher 9C of theattachment system embodiment towards the left wall of the processingarea, thereby cutting the hairs in the processing area chamber orchambers.

The critical parameter is when to trigger this cutting mechanism. Wehave already explained how the system estimates its position on thescalp, but it must, also, be positioned at the correct point along thelength of the hair before cutting. This can be achieved in the samemanner as described for pulling hairs through the cross-sectionalhair-reshaping embodiment. Pullback means and/or bend-under means and/orstack elevation means should be used to pull the hairs lengthwisethrough the orifices in which they're chambered. Because we will mostlikely be using a tensioning hair straightener means, we will assumehairs in processing chambers are pulled tight and are, in effect, zeroedwith reference to the amount of their length that has yet to be pulledthrough a given processing chamber. At this point, the means used topull the hair lengthwise through the chambers from hair base to hair tipshould be actuated. Since the rate at which this device pulls the hairsshould be known and ideally constant, we can estimate the length of hairpulled through by timing. When the system computer determines thecorrect hair length has been reached, the cutting means is actuated.(The lengthwise pull through means may or may not have been stopped.)Thus, a limited number of hairs have been cut to a specificpre-programmed length. This is repeated many times as the system movesover the head.

Note: Even if micro-machine type hair handlers aren't used, independentcontrol among different hair channels and hair cutting chambers is stillpossible using a tine-based system. The configuration that allows thisrequires tines that have hair-handler functional areas (like cutters) inonly a subset of the channels, not all of them. This would require thatthe stack of moving tine-assemblies to have more layers, and as such, bethicker. Nevertheless, this is entirely acceptable, especially, becausethe system can be calibrated to take this into account. For example, thelower cutting tines in the stack could be timed to be actuated laterthan the higher ones. This is because the corresponding length points oneach hair reach said lower cutting tines later than the higher ones.Also, the cutting means isn't limited to a pincher coming from a singleside. The cutting means could be composed of two cutters that meshtogether as the blades of a pair of scissors do. One of these of theseblades could be either stationary or moving.

Programming Hairstyles into the System

We have explained how the system can cut hairs at different positions onthe head different lengths, but how does the system know what thosedifferent lengths should be? More specifically, what lengths willproduce a specific and aesthetically pleasing hairstyle? There are twoways the system can determine this. In the first method, the systemcould be given basic parameters about the size and shape of a person'shead, most likely based on the size and shape of track guide chosen.Next, a standard hairstyle could be chosen, such as from a standardizedpicture book, and this selection could be entered into the computer.Finally, the computer would have been pre-programmed with thehair-length information necessary to achieve the selected hairstyle onthe given head type.

A second manner of programming a hairstyle into the system is to useempirical sensor measurements from a specific individual's head. Thisway a person could have her hair cut once by a professional, perhaps aworld-famous hairstylist, and have this exact haircut automaticallyduplicated on her head for years to come. Technically, how the sensormeasurements would be made is by placing a hair presence sensor, orsensors, at a position where it can monitor the presence of hairs in theprocessing area, or even in individual processing chambers by usingmultiple sensors. Ideally, this sensor should be placed at approximatelythe same height as the sharp-edged cutting hair handler and havehair-detecting capabilities limited to a line or plane at said height.To program the system, it should be moved through all of the hair on thehead using a standardized pattern. During this programming operation, nohair will be cut. Ideally, programming should be done immediatelyfollowing a professional haircut, and the data obtained should be savedfor later use. Of course, the system measures hair lengths in a verysimilar manner to the way it estimates when to cut hair, as describedabove. Specifically, we will assume hairs in processing chambers arepulled tight and are, in effect, zeroed with reference to the amount oftheir length that has yet to be pulled through a given processingchamber. At this point, the means used to pull the hairs lengthwisethrough the chambers from hair base to hair tip should be actuated.Since the rate at which this device pulls the hairs should be known andideally constant, we can estimate the length of hair pulled through bytiming. When the hair presence sensors detect that most hairs have beenpulled through the chamber past their tips, the computer records thehair length at this specific point on the head. It is at this lengththat the cutting means will be triggered when automated hair cutting isperformed in the future. Thus, the lengths of hairs at all positions onthe head have been measured and recorded.

-   -   Note: This recorded hair-length data can be used not only to        control the cutting process but, also, to determine, in advance,        whether an individual's hair is long and dense enough all over        to accept a particular haircut style. The density can be        determined through the hair counting methods, described        elsewhere in this document, or using sensor means sensitive to        the volume of hairs passing before them in the hair channels.        Such volume-sensitivity might be possible because increased hair        volume will affect the electric currents or electromagnetic        radiation circuits of the sensors more greatly.    -   -Hair presence sensors will likely have a range of sensitivity        so that they can discriminate between having a processing        chamber full of hairs in front of them or a sparsely filled        chamber. A sparsely filled chamber, for practical purposes,        could be treated like an empty chamber.    -   -The hair length and position data can be applied to another        person's head of a different shape and size by expanding,        contracting or, in the case of a greatly receded hairline,        throwing out corresponding data points altogether so as to fit        hair-length data to homologous regions on the two heads.    -   -In order to ensure that the track-guide cap is positioned on        the head correctly, the system might require scanning runs        before cutting. If the cap is misaligned, the system could        require the user to realign it or the system could calculate new        cutting-position data based on the misalignment by mapping the        length-position data to a new grid pattern.    -   -Optionally, additional hair presence sensors could be        positioned in the portions of the hair channels and bend-under        system behind the processing area in order to confirm that the        hair really is being cut to the correct length. This would be        achieved by using a linear array of sensors spaced along the        exit path. For example, a linear array spaced down the length of        a bend-under belt assembly. Hair length would be estimated based        on the last sensor activated. Longer hairs stay in the        bend-under belts longer and activate more sensors than shorter        ones. If placed on the bend-under belt assembly, this array is        likely constructed in a flexible manner.    -   -For all hair presence sensors in this system, it is important        to keep them clean. This might mean a tine-based part swiping        over them periodically or, in the case of sensors placed along        the bend-under belt assembly, having one or more tabs on the        edge of the bend-under belts that swipe across its sensors        periodically.    -   -In addition to hair presence sensors, optical sensors that        record hair color information could be used and placed, most        ideally, in a position adjacent to the processing chambers. This        way as hairs are pulled through the processing chambers, color        information about the hairs at various lengths and positions on        the head can be recorded so that later a colorant application        system could. duplicate the coloring pattern.    -   -Although direct measurement of movement over the scalp is the        most likely way to measure system movement and estimate position        on the scalp, if something is known about the volume or number        of hair on a person's head, sensors that measure hair volume or        count hair number passing through a hair channel could be used        to estimate movement, and from that position on the scalp.    -   -It is important that the operator hold the system sufficiently        near the scalp. For this reason, sensors that measure scalp        contact or distance could be included in the handle unit.    -   -Whether a tensioning hair straightener system is used to hold        the hair (more) perpendicular (than its natural state) to the        scalp or it is done by another means, such as by hand, ideally        it should be done. Otherwise, the system might not be positioned        along the length of the hairs correctly. To make sure adequate        straightening tension is being applied a pressure sensor could        be used to push (most likely perpendicularly) into the hairs        under tension. The system could be calibrated so that the hairs        under tension counter the pressure sensor with certain amount of        force. If they don't, they're not under adequate tension, and        the system computer (if one is used) could act accordingly by        taking measures such as sounding alarms and/or ceasing the        system from any further activity especially cutting. These        pressure sensors are likely configured with a line or band,        perhaps under tension itself or a solid bar which is not, which        presses into the hairs most likely positioned above the        processing stack and ideally aligned largely perpendicular to        hair flow above and across several processing areas.        Hair-presence sensor methods for doing the same might be        employed such as running an optical beam across and area where        hairs should or should not be if they are under tension.        Use as an Intelligent Thinning Shear Means

Some people think their hair is too thick. For this reason, there existsin the prior art a class of device known as thinning shears. Whetherconstructed as manually operated scissors or as an electric hairtrimmer, these devices work by cutting only one out of a specific numberof hairs that pass through them. For example, they might cut one out oftwelve hairs that pass through them. This is acceptable the first timethinning is performed. However, if as some later time after the hairscut grow partially, but not all the way, back to their original length,the person might want to have her hair thinned again. She'll desire thisbecause her hair will be getting overly thick close to the head, but notat longer lengths because the hair hasn't had time to grow out this faryet. Ideally, what needs to be done is to thin only the hair closer tothe head. However, a problem arises because conventional thinning shearscan't cut the same exact hairs that they did the first time. Thus, afterconventional thinning shears are used a second time, most of theoriginally thinned hairs will remain the same length while many longhairs get cut undesirably. Thus, the hair will be thinned all over, notjust close to the head. This means that either the portions closer tothe head won't be thinned enough or the portions farther away from thehead will be thinned too much.

In subsequent thinning sessions, an ideal thinning shears system wouldcut the exact same hairs the second time as it did the first while notcutting any previously uncut hairs. Such a system is possible byintegrating the above-described in-chamber cutting and in-chamber sensormonitoring functions into a system where they function simultaneously.One change that would have to be made is that the sensors should beplaced toward the tops of the hair-cutting chambers, approximately oneto three centimeters higher than the cutting means portions. Thisdistance is equal to the distance hair grows in the several weeksexpected between thinning sessions. While the hairs are being pulledthrough the chambers, the sensors detect the tips of the shorter thinnedhairs before said shorter hairs have cleared the cutting chambers. At ortimed slightly after their detection, the hair cutting means positionedbelow should be actuated. Unlike the programmedhairstyle-cuttingembodiment described above, for optimal performance, the hair thinningembodiment requires each hair to be isolated individually in separateprocessing chambers and for there to be an independent cutting mechanismand independent sensor mechanism for each separate processing chamber.If more than one hair were placed into a single chamber, either longerhairs that weren't supposed to get cut would or shorter hairs has thatwere supposed to get cut wouldn't. These separate cutting means are mostideally configured by placing the cutting edges as functional areas onmicro-machine type actuators.

Naturally, the mechanisms described for the hair-thinning embodiment canbe used in a manner that produces pre-programmed hairstyles. In otherwords, the longer hairs that aren't to be cut for thinning are dealtwith in the same manner as described above for the basic automatedpre-programmed hairstyle-cutting embodiment. In fact, a system can beembodied that performs both thinning and hairstyling functionssimultaneously on one pass over the head.

Applying Coloring Agents to Simulate a Preview Before Cutting

In order to gain a client's confidence before allowing the system toactually cut the hair, the system could be configured with thecapability to simulate the appearance of what the haircut will look likeby applying a dark temporary hair coloring agent to those portions ofthe hair which are planned to be cut while not coloring those portionsthat will remain uncut.

This is achieved using the same process used for timing the actuation ofthe cutting means. However, instead of actuating a cutting means, acolor application means is activated. Naturally, the color applicationshould begin at exactly the same point cutting would have been performedand it should continue until the hair's tip is reached. Perhaps, a hairpresence sensor could be used to determine when the hair's tip has beenreached so as to prevent wasting coloring agent. Most likely, thiscoloring agent will be applied to hairs at locations within the interiorof the processing chambers using either bare nozzles or coatingorifices, as described for the hair cross-sectional reshaping system.The most probable position of the coloring agent supply is through theleft wall as described for other processing stack embodiments.

Computer imaging could even be used to produce a preview picture of aperson showing these colored areas automatically edited out.

5. Dynamic Hair-Channel or other Functional-Area Designs

In the embodiments described up until this point, it has been assumedthat the hair-channel wall means portions would remain stationaryrelative to the processing stack configuration as a whole. Likewise,many functional areas disposed on said hair-channel wall means, such asnozzles, intakes, and dipole ends of a sensor gap, would also remainstationary relative to the rest of the system. In such systems,hair-channel-wall spacing remains constant. However, we can configuredesigns where the hair-channel-wall tines (or more broadlyfunctional-area-supporting projections into a mass of hair) that supportthe hair channel walls themselves move relative to each other and theprocessing stack (or more broadly system) as a whole.

More dynamic configurations are possible where the hair channels formedbetween said functional-area-supporting projections (perhaps, tine-like,perhaps not) could do things such as reposition themselves relative tohairs, perhaps, even going to the hairs rather than the hairs to them.This can be achieved by configuring said functional-area-supportingprojections involved as moving and capable of forming isolation areaswithin the areas between some of their functional areas (usuallyincluding their hair-channel-wall functional areas). This might beachieved by functional areas on a single projection moving relative toeach other, for example by micro-machine means, and/or entirefunctional-area-supporting projections moving relative otherfunctional-area-supporting projections. Hairs may enter said isolationareas by any of, but not limited to, the following: 1. Hairs being movedin by a mechanical hair handler 2. Hair-Channel-wall-based funnelingmeans guiding them in 3. Pure chance 4. Hair attractive or repulsiveforce means, such as static electricity or air currents 5. Sensor meansguiding the movement of said isolation areas to hairs 6. Sensor meanstelling a computer that functional areas, which form an isolation area,to close around a hair(s) when said functional areas happen to be in itsproximity.

Said isolation areas can be one and the same as the processing areas,which perform the desired functions on the hair. Or said isolation areaseach with a hair(s) in them can be moved closer relative to saidprocessing areas so that the net effect is that hairs are brought tosaid processing areas or sub-areas within said processing areas, such asprocessing chambers.

Note:

-   -   -We refer to functional-area-supporting projections extending        into a mass of hair rather than tines because we aren't        requiring that there be multiple projections nor that they be        configured in a tine-assembly fashion    -   -The above-described functional-area-supporting projections        might, (in addition to, or instead of, a hair-channel-wall        functional area), support functional areas described as        metering-area side walls, isolation-area side walls, processing        -area or chamber side walls. (But not limited to this list.)    -   Various functional areas such as hair channel wall means may        form hair channels or hair-channeling areas during processing        even if said channels and channeling areas aren't present all of        the time.

-Regardless of whether a dynamic or stationary hair channelconfiguration is used, those functional areas of hair handlers whichmanipulate hairs by making surface-to-surface mechanical contact withthem could be replaced by functionally-equivalent hair-handlingfunctional areas which generate (non-solid-based) forces that effectuatehair manipulation. For example, moving fluids (liquid or gas),electrical charges or currents, forms of energy including, but notlimited to, sound, heat, magnetic, electromagnetic, could be used tomanipulate hairs in homologous manners to ways many of thedirect-mechanical-contact functional areas do. The mechanisms thatgenerate these (non-solid-based) hair-handling forces could be deployedon tines, or more broadly, functional-area-supporting structuralprojections into a mass of hair. Said mechanisms likely occupyrelatively discrete positions on said structural projections, in asimilar manner to mechanical-hair-handler functional areas, fluid-outputnozzles, and hair-channel sensor gaps. Furthermore, fluid or electricalsupply lines likely power them in analogous manners, for example. Note:If electrical charges are used for manipulation the system might (ormight not) be configured so that it imparts a certain electrical chargeto the entire human body and/or all the hairs on it. The means that doesthis could be part of, or independent of, the hair-processing systemitself.

This dynamic hair-channel-wall design could applied to embodiments thatserve various hair processing functions including, but not limited to,those described in this document such as hair-extension attachment,hair-coating application, hair cross-sectional reshaping, automatedhaircutting, automated hair-implant application.

Finally, just as the dynamic hair-channel-wall configuration can beapplied across many embodiments, so too can features illustrated in oneembodiment be applied by analogy to other embodiments. For example, theprocessing-stack-elevation system, shown illustrated for thecross-sectional hair reshaping system, can be applied to the otherembodiments including, but not limited to, hair-extension attachment,automated haircutting, and automated hair-implant application.

Refinements and Ideas Concerning the Overall Attachment System (andother Types of Processing by Analogy)

***Attachment System Enhancement Features***

Just as the attachment stack can be embodied and enhanced in many ways,so too can the overall attachment system. The following representvariations, and in some cases, enhancements of the overall attachmentsystem.

****Different System Types on One Handle Unit

Removal and Attachment Systems On Same Handheld Unit

Originally, the hair extension removal and attachment systems wereplaced on two separate handle units. However, a system where theattachment stack follows immediately behind the hair removal system is apossibility. In such a system, hair extensions are recycled in adifferent manner. Rather than first filling clip cartridges with hairextensions from the removal system, hair extensions from the remover arefed by a conveyor system directly to the attachment stack. The conveyormay first take the hair extensions through some type of refinementsystem that may do things such as clean, sort out undesirable, andrealign how the conveyor holds the hair extensions. Alternatively, thehair extensions maybe taken directly from the removal system to theattachment stack. Regardless of the path the conveyor takes. in themiddle, it will typically leave the back of the remover with detachedhair extensions and bring them to the attachment stack from the back ortop. In other words, it will loop around from the front of the handleunit to a place towards farther back in the trailing attachment stack.In such a system, a single pass over each scalp area would both removehair extensions and then reattach them closer to the scalp. Naturally,such a system would ideally have a hair straightener. It may use onehair tensioning straightener that precedes both the removal andattachment systems or it may use two straighteners, one preceding eachdirectly.

The remover, attachment stack, and straightener can each be considered aseparate functional unit. Each functional unit should have close contactwith the scalp. In FIG. 78, it is shown how the attachment stack held byits belt buckle and the straightener both were allowed to rotaterelative to the handle unit and each other in order to conform to thesurface of the scalp. Referring to FIG. 75, rotation of these twofunctional units is achieved by their peg-in-hole connection to thestilts 75B of the handle unit. However, when more than two functionalunits are attached to a single handle unit, a slightly different systemfor allowing them to conform to the scalp must be used. For example, allfunctional units could be mounted with resilient connections that permittheir movement both rotationally relative to and vertically away fromthe scalp. This includes simple attachment by spring or rubber band tothe rigid handle unit, mounting on a handle unit comprised ofindependently flexible segments, or introducing additional pairs ofhandle unit stilts where each pair of stilts has the ability to retractaway from the scalp when pushed in and resiliently rebound towards thescalp when this pressure is released. These additional pairs of stiltswould most likely be introduced one behind the other.

Cross-Sectional Reshaping and Hair Attachment On One Handle

Another possible combination of two systems on one handle is to place ahair cross-section-reshaping stack in front of a hair extensionattachment stack. Such a system would reshape the cross-sections ofnatural scalp hairs and then attach hair extensions to them. Naturally,such a system would ideally have a straightener. It may use onestraightener that precedes both the reshaping and attachment systems orit may use two straighteners, one preceding each directly.

Hair Extension Removal and Cutting Function On One Handle

Yet another possible combination of two systems on one handle is toplace a scalp hair cutting system after the hair extension removal unit.The hair cutting system could be either be some form of conventionalelectric hair trimmer or the automated hair cutting processing stackembodiment. In such a system, the hair extensions would be removed andscalp hairs cut to the desired length in one step. Such a system isdesirable for people who want to keep their natural scalp hair veryshort and unseen relative to the hair extensions. Ideally, astraightening system should continue to tension scalp hairs as they arecut and the cutting system's height above the scalp should be madeadjustable.

****Pre-Programmed Styles:

Another labor-saving strategy is to use hair extensions that are alreadycut to the correct lengths before they are attached to the scalp hairs.Such a system would make possible pre-programmed hairstyles. To best dothis, the hair extensions should be cut to length by the time they areplaced in the hair extension cartridges. Since hairstyles usually arecomposed of hairs of different lengths, the clip cartridges will have tobe filled with hairs of a variety of lengths. This can be done severalways:

One way to fill clip cartridges with a variety of hair lengths is tofill each clip with hairs from different sources. This can be done bymoving the hair extension clip cartridges relative to their fillingsources.

Another way to fill clip cartridges with a variety of hair lengths is tocut hair extensions to the correct lengths as they move on a conveyorsystem headed towards the clip cartridges. The best way to do this is tointroduce a hair tensioning and straightening means such as a vacuumalong the path of the conveyor. This will pull all of the conveyor heldhairs largely straight and perpendicular to their supporting conveyorsystem. Further, place a cutting mechanism such that the tensioned hairsmust flow through it at some point along their lengths. The cuttingmechanism should be given the ability to move towards and away from thehair-supporting conveyor. This will allow the hairs coming through theconveyor to be cut to a variety of controlled lengths. As such, the hairextensions placed in the clip cartridges can have a variety of lengthsordered to produce a desired hairstyle when attached to the head.

To better control the filling of clip cartridge, counting sensors couldbe placed along the length of the hair conveyor that feeds thecartridges.

***Utility Features (Safety/Maintenance)--Macro Level***

The attachment system might have certain features incorporated into itthat ensure safety and system maintenance. I call these features utilityfeatures. The following are such utility features:

****Between Customer Automatic Cleaning Process

The attacher and remover handle units could have some means of applyingdegumming, lubrication and disinfection that is used between hairattachment sessions. This application means could be a system that pipesthe various maintenance fluids to the handle units and, perhaps, spraysit on them. Alternatively, the handle units could be soaked in tanks oflubrication, cleaning and disinfection fluid. This fluid applicationmeans could be deployed automatically between sessions. If soaking tanksare used, sensors, such as floats, could be incorporated as part of thehandle units in order to enforce dunking in the tanks. During fluidapplication, the moving parts could be activated so they get lubricatedbetter. Before fluid application, the various application outputs, suchas adhesive and solvent outputs, should use negative pressure to pulltheir contents back into the supply lines. This will cause air bubblesto form at the output nozzles. These air bubbles should obstructentrance into the supply lines, preventing mixing of cleaning fluid withthe output fluids such as adhesives. Whether sprayed or dunked, thehandle units should be placed in a largely sealed container duringcleaning to prevent cleaning fluid from escaping and causing a mess inthe hair salon. Said container likely has a drain. Additionally orinstead, heat or UV light might be applied in this container tofacilitate cleaning.

****Use of Sensors to Monitor for Correct Handle Movement

Both the remover and attacher handles are typically run over the scalpby following between track-guides placed on the surface of the head. Inorder to ensure that these track-guides are followed and that the systemis moved over the scalp at the correct speed, alarms could be used.Tracking centering alarms could be based on sensors that measurepressure against the track-guides or electromagnetic sensors, such asoptical or magnetic sensors, that measure relative position of thetrack-guides. If magnetic sensors were used, the track-guides would haveto be impregnated with a magnetically detectable material. Pressuresensors that give feedback on how hard the system is being held againstthe scalp might also be helpful. When such pressure sensors show thatthe system has been moved too far away from the scalp, the system'scomputer might be programmed to assume the end of a track-guide row hasbeen reached. Or if it knows otherwise because of some other means likea speed and distance measurement device, it could alert the user.Finally, if the system is being moved over the scalp too fast an alarmcould sound or trigger a mechanism that acts like a break to slow thesystem down.

***Tensioning Hair Straightener Enhancement Features***

There are alternative ways of configuring a hair straightening andtensioning means. Below are descriptions of variant tensioning hairstraightener embodiments:

The scalp hair straightener originally was shown as a set of tines thatfirst moves sideways (against another set of tines) to pinch scalp hairsand then moves upwards to straighten them under tension. However, thestraightener could be configured so that it only has to move sideways inorder to pinch and hold scalp hairs. In order to move the hairs upwardsaway from the scalp, air could be blown or sucked in the appropriatedirection. Hairs would be held firmly when the sideways motion pinchesthem, and move upward when sideways motion releases the pinch. The pinchand release motion should occur fast enough that the system could bemoved over the scalp at a desired speed. As with most straightenerdesigns, the scalp hairs should be pinched and firmly held during hairprocessing and metering. It is not as important that hairs be held undertension when they are being brought into or exiting the attachment area.It should be noted that any means capable of conveying hairs upwardscould be substituted for air, such as forces derived from electricalcharges.

****Use of Non-Solid-Based Forces to Straighten Hair:

Systems that used non-solid-based forces to straighten the hair could beemployed. Functional areas which generate these (non-solid-based)hair-lifting forces could be positioned on the straightener's surfaces(likely tine-based surfaces) homologous to those illustrated in thefirst-described embodiment of the tensioning hair straightener. Ifforce-generating functional areas are actually positioned on surfaceswhich extend into the hair, such as tines, then these surfaces mayrequire pathways through their supporting structures in order to powerthe forcegenerating functional areas. For example, air could be carriedto the functional areas in hollow tubes but output only through discretefunctional areas in the form of nozzle on a tine's surface. However, thevarious non-solid-based forces used don't necessarily have to be appliedon functional areas supported by tines or any type of projectionextending into a mass of hair. Instead, the force could be applied froma general location exterior to mass of hair on the human head. Forexample, vacuum intakes or electrically charged surfaces could be usedto attract the hair upward. The intake nozzle or attractive chargedsurface could simply be placed on a fixture that holds it a desiredheight above the scalp.

The types of non-solid-based forces used to lift hair include, but arenot limited to, moving fluids (liquid or gas), electrical charges orcurrents, forms of energy including, but not limited to, sound, heat,magnetic, electromagnetic.

Systems that use air to help straighten hairs away from scalp shouldhave their air nozzles placed in various manners. If the air nozzlessuck air into themselves in order to create a vacuum, they should beplaced a distance above the scalp at least equal to the desired lengthof hair straightening. Alternatively, if the air nozzles blow air out ofthemselves in order to create positive pressure air currents, they willusually be placed near the scalp below the desired length of hairstraightening. In either case, straightening systems that only use airand no mechanical pinching are a possibility. However, they're less ableto hold straightened hairs under tension than systems that usemechanical pinching.

Generally, air and other non-solid-based forces will perform the hairlifting and straightening function better than they will thehair-engagement-holding function (such as pinching or tension holdingvia hooking or pinching). Thus, a hair straightener that usesnon-solid-based forces to lift will likely retain a separate hairengagement function such as pinching. For example, a system that usesair currents to lift, but having some portion composed of pinching tineslike those shown in the first-described embodiment is a likelyimplementation. This pinching portion may (or may not) be limited toonly one portion of the straightener, such as a band along its top. Thistype of configuration will likely still be used even if non-solid-basedforces are generated by mechanisms that are NOT supported by projectionsextending it a mass of hair such as tines. For example, vacuum intakesplaced on fixture (which itself could be part of the straightener unit)that holds them over the scalp could be placed above a pinching means(like a set of pinching tines). The vacuum would generate the hairlifting, and the pinching means could be solely responsible for pinchingand holding the hairs in position.

****Use of a Rotary Means to Straighten Hair:

Rather than the using tines that pinch and slide relative to each otherto tension scalp hairs, tines that rotate relative to each other couldbe used. Such a rotary straightening means might be rollers of a largelycylindrical shape used to move hairs away from the scalp. Alternatively,the rotary means might be belts that are used to move hairs away fromthe scalp. Regardless of the exact configuration of the rotary means,the rotating members should typically be used in pairs, functionally andstructurally analogous to the tine pairs of the first embodiment of thestraightener. Each member of a pair should rotate in an oppositerotational direction than the other, and their closest rotating edgesshould both move in the same linear direction away from the scalp.Although less ideal, a system that uses rotating members paired not withother rotating members but with stationary surfaces is possible.Regardless of whether rotors are paired with other rotors or stationarysurfaces, scalp hairs should be guided between each member in a pair inorder to allow the rotors tight contact against the scalp hairs. Inorder to guide hairs into these tight central passageways, the rotarymeans should be preceded by narrowing areas that funnel the scalp hairsinto said passageways. These funneling passageways could be formed byplacing pointed shaped projections in front of the rotating members.These pointed projections could be non-rotating and independent of therotating members or part of the rotating members; for example, therotating cylinders could have fronts that narrow into cone shapes.Regardless of the exact nature of the funneling system, it shouldprevent hairs from going between two separate rotor pairs because themost lateral rotating surfaces of each pair move in a linear directiontowards the scalp.

The rotating pairs should be able to exert a certain amount of pinchingforce on the hairs between them. To best do this, each member of thepair could be resiliently mounted relative to the other. This resiliencemay be achieved by a mounting each rotating member on a resilient axle,by placing a resilient material under the rotating belts, or byfabricating the rotating parts themselves out of a resilient material.Alternatively, the pinching force could be achieved in the same mannerit was in the straightener originally described in the originalembodiment. In other words, my actuating the straightener's tines (orpinching pairs) together.

The rotating members will likely be driven by a mechanism such as apulley system that has a belt or cord interlaced through it. It is mostlikely that each individual roller will not be independently powered,but all the rollers will be connected so as to share a single powersource. This connection of rollers could benefit from a connectivitybridge situation where the tines are the individual rollers and theconnectivity bridge between them is the drive system. For example, thebelt or cable in a shared pulley system could be considered aconnectivity bridge. At those areas between each roller pair that formthe hair pathways, the drive system should be elevated above the desiredlength of hair straightening. In these same areas, the drive systemshould usually have a shield near it that separates its moving partsfrom the scalp hairs. However, the drive system can extend downwardstowards any lower-lying rollers in any of those areas where they do notintersect the scalp hair pathways (hair channels).

Although rollers in each pair (of pinching tine structures) must rotatein opposite (rotational) directions, it is most ideal to configure adrive system that uses a single belt or cable moving in only onedirection. In order to get a single direction drive means to rotaterollers in opposite directions, it will is best to contact opposingrollers from opposite sides, be twisted backwards around certainrollers, or first contact a direction-reversing roller or that goes onto contact a hair pinching roller itself.

If belts are used as the rotating pinching means, then belts of variousheights (their direction of move is perpendicular to the scalp) can beused along the length of the hair straightener. For example, tallerbelts that touch the scalp, in order to pick up hairs, could be used atthe front of the straightener. Likewise, shorter belts that do not touchthe scalp, but remain above the attachment stack where they serve tokeep hairs straight could be used at the back of the straightener. Afunctional equivalent can be achieved by stacking rollers. The stacksshould be linear with hair pathways between them. Such stacked rollerswould only need to be driven by a belt from the back of the straightenerif they interlocked with each other so as to transfer rotationalmovement among each other. This interlocking would most likely includethe use of much thinner rollers or gears, that do not come in contactwith the hair, placed between the rollers that do. Said thinner rollerswould be used to transfer rotational movement among the larger rollersin a manner so that they all rotate in the same direction.

****Independent Pinching Means Used with Straightener

Regardless of the type of straightener used to lift hairs, anindependent pinching (or other form of engagement) means (most likely aset of pinching tines) could be placed over it (or in the case ofnon-solid-based-hair-lifting forces, sometimes under the areas thatgenerate them). This pinching (or other engagement) means would not beresponsible for lifting hairs over the scalp. Rather, its primary dutywould simply be to help keep the straight hairs that enter it straight.It could help a pinch-and-release type straightener (the type in theoriginal embodiment) by pinching when the lifting mechanism belowreleases. It could also help any type of straightener by securingtension or pinching in a manner that it acts like a break, stoppingforward advancement of the attachment or removal system. For example, itmight be desirable to stop forward movement of the attachment systemwhile hairs are being attached. It also might be desirable to secure thetension on the scalp hairs while they are, for example, being meteredout by a hair isolation system. Such a pincher most ideally should becomposed of or coated with a high coefficient of friction material suchas silicone rubber. Although some use might be found for such a pincherbreak with the remover system, it is probably best not to use is therebecause it might prevent the bend-under belt system from carryingdetached hair extensions away.

****A Description of the Straightener with Respect to the Entire HandleUnit and Attachment (Processing) Stack

Regardless of its exact mechanism of operation, any straightener willusually be positioned in a special manner with respect to the attachmentstack or remover, or any other processing system, for which it isstraightening scalp hairs. Since a straightener may serve either anattachment stack, remover or any of the processing-stack embodiments,whether described herein or not, all will be subsumed by the phrase,“processing system.” Below various attributes of straightener positionrelative to a processing system are described.

First, a hair straightening system should usually be positioned in aflexibly yielding manner that allows it to move relative to theprocessing system (for example attachment stack) it serves. Thefollowing describe some methods of such placement:

The straightener is often located in the following manner:

-   -Attached, either directly or indirectly, to handle means AND in    front of a processing system, such as the attachment stack-   -Portions of it often extend back over a processing system, such as    the attachment stack.

The straightener usually moves relative to the processing system in oneor more of the following ways

-   -Mounted on a fulcrum, so that it moves rotationally-   -Mounted on a spring or other flexible mechanism, or straightener    itself made from deformable materials, so that in can move in one or    more of the following ways:    -   -Vertical retraction away from, and advancement towards, the        scalp    -   -Horizontal retraction away from, and advancement towards, the        scalp

Note: Although the above movement patterns usually apply to astraightener where the entire unit moves, they also usually apply to astraightener that allows part of itself to retract into itself.

Force Exertion Areas of Hair Straightener Means:

Additionally, a hair straightening system should usually exert force onscalp hairs within the following areas with respect to the processingsystem that it serves. The scalp hair tensioning or straightening meansshould exert largely upward (with respect to the scalp 430) force onhairs in the following areas, designated by letter described below andshown in FIG. 121:

121A: The force extends down below and in front of the attachment stack(processing system) down to or very near the surface of the scalp 430AND may also exert this upward force on scalp hairs in one or more ofthe following areas:

121B: The force remains in front of the attachment stack.

121C: The force remains above and in front of the attachment stack.

121D: The force remains directly above the attachment stack.

[AND OPTIONALLY: The straightener means is so attached relative to theattachment stack (processing system) that the forces maintain theserelative positions, such that a hair lying flat on the scalp experiencesthese force-areas 121A, 121B, 121C, 121D, sequentially.

And as a further option, it might only experience forces attributablefrom only one of these areas (or an area with one of these area) at anygiven time and not be disturbed by forces out said force-attributablearea. In other words, it might be moved from one area to the nextincrementally, but until, it reaches the next area the next area cannotinfluence it. This option is would not be the case if, for example, airintakes were simply placed on a fixture that holds them several cm overthe scalp because the resulting air currents would usually moveerratically between several areas. However, if an actuation means ornon-solid-based force-generating actuation means had discrete functionalareas placed on projections (such as tines) extending into a mass ofhuman hair, then said functional areas could limit their spheres ofinfluence. For example, such functional areas capable of limiting thespheres of influence include, but are not limited to, micro-machineactuators, gentle air currents generated by nozzles placed near thehairs, electrically-charged surfaces placed in a similar manner.]

Note:

-Moving hairs through the straightener in increments from on functionalarea to the next may be desirable because it is more predictable andneedn't affect anything outside of the hair straightening system. Anexample of a short distance would certainly include a distance less thanthe height of the attachment stack (or more broadly hair processingsystem).

-By sometimes using the words tensioning straightening with reference adevice which holds hairs more perpendicular than their natural staterelative to the scalp, we are trying to differentiate between it andchemical and heat hair straighteners that are designed to, at leastsomewhat, fixate the hair with a longitudinal curvature. This is not tosay all embodiments of tensioning hair straighteners apply a greatamount of tension to the hair. For example, if static electricity wasused to orient hair in a more perpendicular orientation the scalp, onecould argue that many of the force vectors suspending the hairtechnically aren't tension. However, we would still consider such asystem to fall under the category of a tensioning hair straightener.This not to say that in many embodiments of the tensioning hairstraightener that the tension isn't real. It many it is, and often verystrong.

-Ideally, but not always, a straightener's channels (if it has any)should line up with the processing stack that it serves. This way thehairs from the straightener will flow directly into the processingsystem's channels and will not have to be refunneled into rows again.

***Handle Refinements***

Previously, handles for holding the attachment stack and hair extensionremoval system were shown. These handles may be enhanced with any of thefollowing features:

-Referring to FIG. 75, rollers could be put on the bottoms of the frontstilts 75B of the handles. These rollers allow the front-most stilts toroll over the scalp without disturbing the hairs below. Furthermore,these rollers could be used to measure speed and distance over the scalpby feeding their rotational movement to a sensor. Additionally, theserollers could be attached to actuators that cause them to automaticallybrake under control of the system computer. To facilitate this breaking,the rollers could be comprised of a high friction material like rubberand/or have cleats.

-A processing system, such as the attachment stack, could be made tomove up down relative to the scalp, in a manner similar to an elevator.This could be accomplished in a variety of ways. For example, referringto FIG. 75, the front stilts 75B on the handles could be configured sothat their tips move in and out, causing shortening and lengthening ofthe stilts. Alternatively, if stilts are not used, whatever portion ofthe handle that holds the processing system could be made to go up anddown relative to the rest of the handle. Finally, the belt buckle, orfunctional equivalent, could have an elevator means within it that movesthe attachment stack, or analogous processing system, up and downrelative to the scalp.

-Several parallel processing stacks could be connected to a flexiblebackbone means that holds them aligned with- the tracks of the track-cap(if one is used otherwise simply laterally spaced), thereby, allowingthem to all advance over several tracks (positions) on the headtogether. Said backbone could be configured as or attached to a handleunit means. Alternatively, this like all handle assemblies could be heldby a mechanical arm(s) or moving support means, instead of by a human.The above-described assemblies may even obviate the need for using atrack-cap.

***Attacher Supply Lines—Joining & Configuration***

The processing stack embodiments and hair extension removal systems allmust be supplied with various inputs. These inputs may be energy, suchas electrical or mechanical, or various substances. Although discussedto a certain extent before, below is further discussion of supply lines.

Previously, the idea of using “contact-cards” (as illustrated by 67B ifFIG. 67) to consolidate many electrical contacts into a single unit wasdiscussed. At this point, it should be made clear that the surfaces ofthese contact-cards are not necessarily perfectly flat. Often, thevarious contacts on each card must be arranged in a stairstep patternrelative to each other. Further, contact cards need not only be employedto carry energy. They could also be used to unify tubes into a singleorderly array. An array of tubes joined together by a contact-cardstructure could be molded as a single object, ideally out of a flexibletough plastic such as Teflon.

****Thermally Insulating Connected Supply Lines

Clearly, there is a benefit to uniting tubes with a contact-cardimmediately before they connect with the attachment stack. However, wemay also want to unite parallel wires, fibers and tubes into bundlesalong their length. This is especially true if they are carrying asubstance that must remain hot, cold, or otherwise protected from theenvironment. For this reason, similar tubes (say tubes carrying heatedmaterials) should be wrapped together with an insulative means such asan infrared reflective tape. To further control temperature within thesebundles, heating elements could be introduced within each bundle. Thesetemperature regulation elements could be of various types. For example,heating elements could be electrical resistance or tubes that carry aheated liquid in loops. If temperature-regulation tube loops are used,the segment of each loop that carries liquid towards the attachmentstack should be incorporated into the insulated bundles. However, thesides of the loops that return the temperature-regulation fluid mightwell be left on the outside of the temperature-regulated bundles.

When a thermally insulative wrapping is used, it will ideally be wrappedas close to the attachment stack as possible, perhaps even around theattachment stack itself. If this is impossible, then the contact cardmight be made out of an insulative material or a sealant material withinsulative properties could be applied between the attachment stack andwhere the thermally insulative wrapping ends.

Although most likely used with the attachment stack, the above-describedtemperature control strategies could also be used with the hairextension removal system or any analogous processing system.

****Liquid Propulsion Systems:

Adhesive and other liquids used in the attachment process, or anyprocess, can be propelled through the supply lines by pressure appliedby several different methods as described below:

----Gas-in-Line Propulsion

In the first method, adhesive or other fluid could be transported to thenozzle outputs via air pressure behind it in the supply line. In such asystem, there is no need to suck the fluid back towards its sourcereservoir. This is because only a small amount of fluid has been infusedinto the fluid supply lines. Any excess fluid remaining after a singleuse can simply be expelled. This is possible because this small volumeof adhesive or other fluid is pushed from its source reservoir severalfeet along a supply line by air pressure behind it in the line. The lineonly contains a small amount of fluid at the very front of thepressurized air. This means the fluid supply line will be emptiedbetween uses and can actually be blown or washed out before its nextuse.

Such a system will usually have a small chamber that is filled up by amuch larger fluid supply reservoir. Once the smaller chamber is filled,perhaps by gravity, a valve between it and the main fluid reservoirshould be closed. Next, a valve that supplies this smaller chamber withair pressure should be opened forcing the adhesive through the supplyline. This air pressure should be introduced into the small chamber suchthat it is behind the adhesive. For example, the adhesive line couldexit through a funneling bottom in the small chamber, while the airpressure could be introduced from the top. Sufficient air pressureshould be applied in order to bring the adhesive to its output nozzlesin the attachment stack. This can be done by applying a timed pulse ofair pressure, or by constant low-pressure air. Constant low-pressure airwill be sufficient to move the adhesive through the relatively widesupply lines but not to expel it through the thin output nozzles in theattachment stack. Naturally, when adhesive is desired to be squirt outof these nozzles, air pressure will be applied in short powerful pulses.Any small amount of excess adhesive that remains at the end of a sessioncan simply be discarded by forcing it out nozzles. The lines can even bewashed with a solvent and then blown clean. If a washing solvent isused, it should be introduced into the same small chamber in the samemanner that the adhesive was.

-----Liquid-in-Line Propulsion

A second type of propulsion scheme pushes adhesive through the entirelength of a supply line solely by raising the pressure in the mainadhesive reservoir. It has an entire supply line of adhesiveuninterrupted from the reservoir. In such a configuration, when adhesiveis expelled through an output, more always takes its place from behind.This means that to prevent adhesive contamination between uses, negativepressure might be applied to suck the adhesive backward through itssupply line. Hopefully, the resulting air bubbles at the tip of thesupply lines will prevent contaminants from moving backward down thesupply line.

A system such as this one not only has an adhesive supply line thatleads straight from main adhesive reservoir to the adhesive outputs inthe attachment stack. It also has to have some means of applying bothpositive and negative pressure to the adhesive in this large reservoir.In theory, a mechanical means of pressing directly against the contentsof the reservoir could do this. However, it is more practical to applyair pressure into the reservoir.

Regardless of the type of adhesive-propulsion scheme used, thesepropulsion schemes apply not just to adhesives but all fluid outputsused in the attachment process, or by any type of processing system.Each of these various fluids should be kept in its own reservoir. Eachof these reservoirs will need to be cared for in its own way. Forexample, cyanoacrylate adhesive cures upon exposure to moisture in theair. Its life could be extended if the air at the top of its reservoirtank could be kept dry, such as with the use of desiccants. In a similarmanner, the wax-rosin mixture will turn solid if not kept above acertain minimum temperature. Thus, the wax rosin reservoir tank shouldbe heated prior and during system use.

-----Using Color Adhesive:

Most ideally, a clear invisible adhesive that works fine with all colorsof hair will be used. However, if using different colors of adhesive ondifferent heads of hair is desirable, then the system can accommodatethis by using one of the following methods. You should note thesefollowing methods apply not just for dealing with various colors ofadhesives, but also for dealing with various colors or types of fluid tobe applied on the hair such as various coatings.

----->Mixing Custom Colors:

When creating custom colors of adhesive, relatively pure coloring agentscan be mixed together in proper proportion and added to the adhesive.Alternatively, the adhesive could be supplied in several primary colorsthat are mixed together in proper proportion. In both methods, mixingmust occur. This mixing will usually occur in a small mixing chamber.This mixing chamber might be placed anywhere between the adhesive supplyreservoirs and the adhesive output nozzles. In fact, simply placingseveral primary color adhesive output nozzles near each other in theattachment chamber might provide sufficient mixing. If the gas-in-linepropulsion method is used, then it does not really matter how close themixing chamber is placed to the output nozzles in the attachment stack.Because air pushes the adhesive through the entire line, the same amountof colored adhesive is used regardless of the. distance it must travel.However, if the liquid-in-line propulsion method is used, ideally, themixing chamber should be placed very close to the output nozzles becausethere will need to be a continuous line of custom-color adhesive betweenthe mixing chamber and the output nozzles. Generally, this custom-coloradhesive will have to be discarded after a single use. Thus, a longdistance between the mixing chamber and outputs wastes much adhesive.

In both configurations, the components to be mixed could be introducedinto the mixing chamber through one way valves. In the gas-in-linepropulsion system, this mixing chamber could be the same small chamberthat adhesive is usually released into before it is sent through thesupply lines. In the liquid-in-line propulsion system, the pressure ofinputs into the mixing chamber through one way valves could force themixture out of a single valve that feeds a single supply line.

----->Selecting Among a Selection of Standard Colors:

Alternatively, the system could work like a modern gas pump. There couldbe a selection of several standard colors, each having its ownreservoir, but all sharing the same adhesive supply line. In theliquid-in-line propulsion system after each use, the last color usedshould be sucked from the shared supply line completely back into itsholding reservoir. In gas-in-line propulsion system, all colors wouldhave different main reservoirs but would all probably share the samesmall pre-line chamber.

***Various Means of Preventing Hair Buildup in System***

The various hair processing-stack type systems usually work mosteffectively on hairs that stand largely perpendicular to the scalp.However, unlike conventional hair trimmers, most of the processing-stackembodiments can't simply cut hairs all hairs in their path. Thus, thispresents a problem because hairs have entered the hair processing stacksystem and various structures associated with it, and said hairs areoriented largely perpendicular to the scalp. If such systems do nothingto help the hairs that have entered them exit, the hairs will tend toremain in the mechanisms of the system, taking up space, for too long ofa time. Thus, regardless of whether a processing-stack type embodimentis used, or some completely different type of hair processing systemthat is also subject to hair-buildup in its mechanism, ideally, devicesshould be implemented to prevent this buildup. In other words, devicethat moves, hairs out of path of the processing system and itsmechanisms faster than they would move out of said path because of mereprocessing device movement over the scalp.

The device originally discussed for moving hairs out of the way in thefirst-described embodiment of the hair extension attachment system wasthe bend-under system. The first-described embodiment of the bend-undersystem was configured using two pairs of pinching belts, to engagedhairs, and it was placed below and towards the terminal ends of theprocessing stack's hair channels. However, the embodiment of thebend-under system first discussed is neither the only possible variantof a bend-under system nor the only embodiment of a broader class ofdevice which we will refer to as a means of preventing hair-buildup infront of an obstacle associated with a hair processing or manipulationsystem. Generally, wherever a bend-under system is referenced, othertypes of hair-buildup-prevention systems can be used in its place.

Hair-buildup-prevention systems can be divided into two generalcategories: Continuous and Intermittent.

****Continuous Hair-Buildup-Prevention Systems

The continuous hair-buildup-prevention systems are based on bend-underschemes. This is to say bending hairs under some part of an obstacleassociated with a hair processing or manipulation system. Although thesesystems are likely to use belts and bend hairs under theconnectivity-bridge portions of a hair processing system, neither usingbelts nor bending hairs under connectivity bridges is an absoluterequirement. For example, the system could use rollers to engage thehairs, and many of the hairs might get bent under the tine portions ofan assembly.

Further still, different types of bend-under systems can be configured.For example, bend-under systems that use air, electrical currents orcharges, rotary, or reciprocating means to apply the force needed tobend hairs under their obstacles are all possibilities. An air-basedsystem, depending on where it is placed relative to the processingsystem, could be based on either blown or sucked air. Any rotary orreciprocating means might be used in a pair in order to pinch and pullhairs. Such means might be paired with another rotary or reciprocatingmeans or simply a stationary surface that it presses against in order topinch hairs. Alternatively, a rotary or reciprocating means might have ahooking or other hair engagement means on it with which it engages hairsso that they can be pulled under their obstacle. Regardless of what typeof means is used to deliver the necessary force to the hairs, generally,systems that deliver said force by pulling on hairs are placed beneaththe hair-processing-related obstacle for which they're clearing a path.Whereas, systems based on pushing hairs are placed above the obstaclefor which they're clearing a path.

The originally presented bend-under belt system presented an example ofa below-obstacle system. For an example of an above-obstacle system,refer to FIG. 122, such a bend-under system 122A will both pull hairs122C back into itself and push them out under the obstacle, in this caseconnectivity bridge 122B. Such a system would do this by applying force(non-solid-based or sold-based) to hairs so that it moves them in adirection of any of the movement vector arrows 122D, or a combinationthese individual vectors. Unlike aunder-the-processing-system-positioned variant that needs no assistanceonce it has engaged a hair, an above-system variant is aided by anobstruction 122E to obstruct the exit channel and prevent hairs fromforming their bends towards the attachment area, rather than under theobstacle, in this case a connectivity bridge. This obstruction 122E canbe where it is shown or placed anywhere along the dotted vertical line122F, including thickening it and placing at all points along saidvertical line. Said obstruction 122E might be the pullback hook, or anyother means that can temporarily obstruct the channel at this point.This series of drawings shows a single hair, at different points intime, being bent under the connectivity bridge using an above-bridgesystem. In the final drawing No. three, we see that the tops of thehairs have been both pulled into and pushed-out of the bend-under systemuntil finally the system drops them, and the hairs are pulled out ofsaid system by their own weight and tendency to straighten. Note: Onlyone hair is shown in the drawing, but many could be handledsimultaneously. In FIG. 122, bend-under system 122A may be a pair ofrollers or belts that engage the hair by pinching or otherwise.

****Intermittent Hair-Buildup-Prevention Systems

Intermittent Reversing Hair-Buildup Prevention

We will discuss two types of intermittent systems that preventhair-buildup in front of an obstacle associated with the hair processingsystem. The first type involves backtracking or reversing hair movementthrough the processing system and the second type involves elevating theprocessing system relative to the scalp. There are two variants of thereversing system, largely-parallel-to-movement-path-oriented processingsystems and largely non-parallel-to-movement-path-oriented processingsystems. By movement path, we are referring to movement of a processingsystem relative to the scalp. By parallel vs. non-parallel orientation,we are speaking of said movement path direction over scalp relative tothe most prominent direction of movement hairs take within a processingsystem.

1. Largely-Parallel-to-Movement Path-Oriented:

The operational sequence of the largely parallel system is to backtrackexiting hairs through their original movement paths into the processingsystem after they have been processed or manipulated by it. Next, conveysaid hairs laterally to at least one lateral side of the processingsystem. Finally and optionally, apply force to said exiting hairscapable of moving them backwards. The most prominent direction ofmovement hairs take within the processing system is largely parallel toits movement over the scalp. Note: Means used to convey or apply forceto hairs may selected from, but not limited to, any means previouslydescribed in this document for these purposes.

2. Largely-Non-Parallel-to-Movement-Path-Oriented:

In the largely-non-parallel system, the paths hairs take inside theprocessing system are configured to have the most prominent direction ofmovement hairs take in a largely non-parallel direction relative to thesystem movement over the scalp. Thus, hairs must be backtracked throughsaid largely non-parallel portions. Once backtracking is complete, saidhairs are largely in an area that isn't obstructed by the processingsystem relative to its movement over the scalp, thereby, avoidinghair-buildup.

However, a means of actively encouraging hairs to take the largelyperpendicular path into the hair processing system, such as apreliminary actuator that engages hairs and moves them in, apreliminary-hair-actuation (non-solidbased) force that does the same assaid actuator, movement of hair processing system itself into the hairs,or configuring the tensioning hair straightener means to tension so thathairs arc under some tension around the entrance areas of said(largely-perpendicular-path) hair processing system might be necessary.Note: This arcing under tension is due to a tendency for the hairs towant to straighten out in a straight line intersecting thehair-processing system or on the far side of said hair-processingsystem. Preliminary actuator and preliminary-hair-actuation force denoteactuation means that wouldn't be necessary if the processing system wereoriented more parallel to hair flow.

Notes for Both System Orientations:

-In both LARGELY-PARALLEL-TO-MOVEMENT-PATH-ORIENTED andLARGELY-NON-PARALLEL-TO-MOVEMENT-PATH-ORIENTED embodiments, ideally,some preliminary-obstruction means for keeping the limited group ofscalp hairs, which currently have authorized access to thehair-processing system, separate from those trailing behind them duringhair-processing-system entrance and exit via reversing (processed hairs)through their paths. Additionally, said preliminary-obstruction meansmight be used in preventing trailing hairs from moving laterally andpast the hair processing system prematurely before being processed. Thispreliminary-obstruction means could include, but is not limited to, anadditional set of hair-metering means perhaps based on a multiple hairchannel design or, alternatively, based on one large hair channel placedahead of the cardinal-processing system. The cardinal-processing systemis defined as that processing system which performs (at least some of)the processes on or relative to the hairs which are the purpose of theuse of the hair-processing system, as a whole, in the first place.Whereas, the preliminary-obstruction means serves to prevent prematureentrance to or passage around said cardinal processing system.

-The most prominent direction of movement hairs take within a processingsystem should be assumed to be that of final approach into theprocessing areas before contact with a functional area which has apurpose other than to merely act as a stationary hair-channel wall. Thisdirection of approach should be assumed to be largely perpendicular to aline running through like areas in parallel processing areas if thesystem is actually, or was to be configured, with multiple processingareas and/or hair channels in parallel.

-Generally, there should be enough space between thepreliminary-obstruction means and cardinal processing system that exitof hairs reversed relative to the cardinal-processing system have a freepath of movement either laterally around said cardinal system and/orpast it. Of course, said free-path includes the path formed through ahair-conveyance means if any is used.

-Reversal of hairs through the cardinal-processing system can beeffected by said cardinal system itself backing up relative hairs in itrather than only a means of actuating said hairs out of the processingsystem.

-A hybrid of LARGELY-PARALLEL-TO-MOVEMENT-PATH-ORIENTED andLARGELY-NON-PARALLEL-TO-MOVEMENT-PATH-ORIENTED embodiments can beconfigured, such as a processing system oriented diagonally to thedirection of movement over scalp.

-The means of laterally helping hairs around the side of cardinal systemafter reversal from it can include blocking entrance to it with anobstruction means whose forward edge is slanted in a direction largelynon-perpendicular to the direction of system movement over the scalp.This blocking should occur in a time period after reversal of hairs outof the system is complete but before the preliminary-obstruction means(if one is used) allows another group of hairs access to enter theprocessing system. Said obstruction edge may (or may not) include ameans of engaging the reversed hairs in front of it and guiding orconveying them in a direction either to a lateral side of the system orthe back of the system or both.

Intermittent Elevating Hair-Buildup Prevention

-Processing system elevation, such as originally shown in thehair-cross-sectional reshaping embodiment, could be used as a means ofpreventing (processed) hair-buildup in front of an obstructionassociated with the processing system. It is based on intermittentlyactuating the processing system relative to scalp by using a mechanismthat moves said processing system either relative to a handle unitand/or a processing-system-attached fixture whose purpose is to supportthe processing system above the scalp. For example, the stilt-portion ofthe handle unit shown in the first embodiment is a fixture whose purposeis to support the processing system above the scalp.

***A Computerized Control System that Requires a Code to Function***

In order to make sure that the operator does not use inferior materials,the system could be configured so that a code has to be entered in orderto get the system to do a certain amount of work. The code verificationsystem could require that a different code be entered for each batch ofmaterial used. For example, to ensure that the authorized brand ofadhesive is used, with each container of adhesive sold, a valid codeshould be supplied. This code will allow the amount of adhesive in thecontainer to be used, but the machine will only accept this code once.In order to use the next container of adhesive, the system will requirea new code. Ideally, each code will be custom generated to work only ona specific unit. As such, valid codes provided for one machine cannot beshared and used in an unauthorized manner with another machine. Thecodes can be supplied by a variety of means including keyboard,diskette, swipe card, or any other computer input system.

In order for the system to know how much work is being done, it couldsimply keep track of the time it is turned on. However, some operatorsmight keep the machine turned on even when they are not really using iton the hair. Thus, use could be verified by sensors that sense movementover the scalp and/or hairs passing through the system. Such sensorsinclude sensors hooked to wheels and sensors run across the channelpathways that detect movement of hairs through the system.

Refinements and Ideas Concerning the Hair Extension Removal System

The hair extension remover system has been previously described.However, further refinements to this type of system are described below.

***Mechanical Aspects of Remover***

Hair extension remover system refinements of a primarily mechanicalnature are described in the list below:

-   -   -The remover's input vacuum nozzles, usually, should be divided        into thin slits, small apertures or have screens placed over        them. This will prevent any hair extensions from being sucked        into the vacuum nozzles rather than being carried away by the        hair transport belts. Of course, this does not have to be the        case if the hair extensions are supposed to be carried away by        the vacuum nozzles. This might be desired if the hair extensions        are simply to be removed and not recycled. It might also be the        case if there, is a sophisticated recycling system that can deal        even with hairs sent to it after they have been sucked through a        tube.    -   -Improve solvent's ability to dissolve by warming it before        applying it to the hair.    -   -In many attachment systems, a temporary fast hardening adhesive        means, such as wax, will be applied in conjunction with a longer        last adhesive means such as cyanoacrylate. This temporary        adhesive means is likely to rapidly soften and harden with        heating and cooling. In order to remove this temporary adhesive        means, the hair extension remover could be have a mode where it        only applies a heated fluid to the hair. It would apply and suck        away this heated fluid in the same manner as it does solvent and        cleaning fluid. This fluid might be washed over the hair in        great quantities and sucked up in a fraction of a second after        application. Alternatively, it might be applied and left on the        hair for a short time. The hot fluid might be an oil or some        other organic fluid that once melted the temporary adhesive        would tend to remain dissolved in. The hot fluid might have a        very thick, even gel-like, viscosity so that it sticks to the        hairs and/or sticks the hairs together in bunches so that        detached hair extensions don't fall from the head spontaneously.

The temporary adhesive removal substance may use some other removalmeans than heat. It might use a solvent strong enough to dissolve onlythe temporary adhesive but not the more permanent adhesive. For example,isopropyl alcohol will dissolve a mixture of beeswax and rosin, whichcan be used as a temporary adhesive. However, isopropyl alcohol does noteffectively dissolve cyanoacrylate adhesives, which can be used on amore permanent basis. Regardless of the exact nature of thetemporary-adhesive-removal substance, it will have to be washed offitself. Perhaps, this can be done by using the remover system to apply adetergent and water solution which will be vacuumed away a moment afterit is applied to the hair.

-   -   -The solvents used to detach hair extensions are usually        flammable. In order to reduce this risk of fire, certain        precautions might be taken. For example, a sensor capable of        detecting fire and fire extinguisher nozzles could be placed in        or near the remover handle unit. Naturally, the sensors would be        configured to trigger the fire extinguisher nozzles placed        nearby.

Alternative fire prevention methods include incorporating a fireretardant substance into the solvent or applying such a substance withthe solvent. To illustrate, a flammable solvent gel could be under,above, or sandwiched between a fire-retardant gel. A mechanical processwould accomplish this. For example, fire-retardant gel could be extrudedthrough nozzles positioned on either side of each solvent gel nozzle. Asimilar mechanical scheme could be used to apply a protective fluid, gelor foam that shields the scalp from the solvent gel, so as to minimizethe amount of solvent absorbed by the human skin.

-   -   -To further reduce fire risks and health hazards, the hair        extension remover handle unit could have a vacuum nozzle within        it. This would suck any escaping solvent vapors from the unit.        Such nozzles might be placed near and even in line with the        solvent application nozzles themselves. In a similar manner, a        hair cap that sucks solvent vapors from it could be produced.        This cap would be used during the period while the solvent is        detaching hair extensions. Solvent vapor rich air, from either        source, could be bubbled through a solvent that will dissolve        them, such as water in the case of acetone. Finally, this        solvent could be safely flushed down the drain.    -   -In most cases, the hair extension detaching solvent will be        applied to the hairs, on the head, in long flat beads that will        act on the adhesive for several minutes. In order to prevent        hair extensions from falling out in an unorderly manner, the        solvent should be thick and sticky enough that it holds hair        extension in place, even after the adhesive that holds them have        been dissolved. Ideally, the remover handle unit should be        configured so that the long solvent beads line up with the        remover channels that originally applied them. This way one row        of hairs matted into a sheet-like group will go to only one        remover channel, and won't be disrupted by being split between        two channels. This is facilitated in great part because the        remover could use the same type of track guiding means that the        attachment system does most likely a track-guide cap.        ****Alternative Hair Extension Removal Means        Remove CVD Films Rings with:

An alternative hair extension attachment removal means should be used ifchemical vapor deposition (CVD) was used to deposit a ring of inorganicmaterial around a scalp hair and a hair extension in order to attachthem together. These rings typically will not be dissolvable by organicsolvents; therefore, another removal means will be necessary. Below is alist of strategies for removing hair attachments without using organicsolvents:

-   -   -Hair extension attachments that are not dissolvable by organic        solvents might be dissolved with acids or bases. These acids or        bases should usually be formulated into a semi-solid gel or        paste.    -   -It is possible that an attachment means that uses a combination        of an organic adhesive with an inorganic ring might be used. For        example, the inorganic ring might be applied using CVD or by        crimping metal around the hair attachment area. However, these        inorganic rings, although strong, might it some cases slide so        that they fail to hold their positions on their hairs. To        prevent this sliding, an organic adhesive might be applied to        both the rings and the hairs, after the rings have been placed        around their hairs. In order to dissolve such a combination        attachment, the organic adhesive should first be dissolved with        an organic solvent, as previously described. Once the solvent is        removed, the rings could be slid off the hairs by pulling them        lengthwise through slits that have a wider diameter than the        hairs but smaller diameter the rings. These slits might be        configured as funneling notches cut into the connectivity bridge        area. Hairs will be funneled into these thin slots where they        will be pulled through by the bend-under system. As the hairs        are pulled through, the rings will be pulled off. Likewise,        these rings could be slid off by sliding hair bundles through        pincher notches similar to those pincher notches described for        use with the attachment system.    -   -Alternatively, such inorganic rings, or any sufficiently rigid        attachment means might be cracked mechanically. Ultra sound        should be counted among such mechanical cracking means. A        crushing means such as hammers or rollers are other        possibilities. However, the danger of using such a crushing        means is that the hairs themselves may be permanently flattened        and damaged. To prevent this, the narrowest distance between        crushing surfaces must be held to a minimum distance.        Furthermore, only a limited number of hairs, at any given        moment, should be allowed between crushing surfaces. This might        require the use of metering/isolation system like those        described for the attachment system.        ****Ways to Prevent and Deal with Attachment of 2 or More Scalp        Hairs to Each other:

The attachment stack can use systems that isolate single scalp hairs.This way only hair extensions will be attached to scalp hairs. Scalphairs will not be attached to each other. However, what if the systemsused by the attachment stack fail to do this, and two or more scalphairs get attached to each other. Certainly, this is undesirable becauseif a person combs or runs her fingers through her hair, the fingersmight get caught under the arcs of the attached scalp hairs.

Although it is preferable to prevent scalp hairs from getting attachedto each other, if this cannot be prevented, a system that detaches scalphairs from each other but leaves them attached to hair extensions couldbe used. The best way to configure such a system is to space sheets withwedge-shaped cross-sections pointed forwards, as tines along aconnectivity bridge. The flat surfaces of these wedge-shaped sheetsshould be largely perpendicular to the scalp and parallel to theirdirection movement over the scalp, and the tips of the wedges should beplaced near the scalp and pointed forward relative to their movementover the scalp. These sheets could have a center to center spacing lessor approximating equal to the spacing of hair follicles on the scalp, inother words about 0.05 of an inch (1.27 mm). They could also have anedge to edge spacing sufficient to allow hairs to pass between them,about 0.01 of inch (0.254 mm), or greater. This assembly of wedges couldbe moved over the scalp in a similar manner to the way that thestraightener is. In fact, like the straightener, this wedge assemblymight be made moveable relative to its handle unit. The points of thesewedges will tend to get caught under the arcs that connected twoconnected scalp hairs form. Further, each gently sloping wedge-shapewill relatively gradually force itself between connected scalp hairs,thus, peeling them apart. However, these wedges will tend not to detachhair extensions from scalp hairs because they cannot get caught betweena scalp hair and its attached hair extension. Since the adhesives usedusually temporarily weaken upon exposure to heat, heating these wedgeswill help them peel two scalp hairs apart.

The heated-wedge system could be combined with the remover unit. Othersystems that could be combined with it and the remover include a hot oilapplicator for dissolving the temporary holding wax/rosin adhesive and asolvent gel applicator for dissolving the longer term holding adhesive.

***Keeping Applied Solvent only where It's Needed***

Hair extension remover system refinements that primarily deal withkeeping the applied solvent only where it's needed are described in thelist below:

-In order to use any solvent that is undesirable to get on the scalp,such as methylene chloride, mix the solvent into a slurry with- smallparticles that will through capillary action prevent solvent fromescaping. It's important that the pore size between slurry particles issufficiently smaller than that found between human hairs so that theslurry wins the competition with the hairs for soaking up solvent, andthus, keeps it off the scalp. Also, the slurry-paste should stick to thehairs so that gravity doesn't pull it down the hair shafts onto thescalp. A sticky slurry paste is also desirable from the standpoint ofimmobilizing detached hair extensions before the remover can get tothem.

Means of making the slurry paste sticky include 1. Formulate it with athick viscosity 2. Allow its viscosity to increase with a partialevaporation of solvent from the slurry. 3. Use a chemical hardeningreaction similar to plaster of Paris or concrete (only weaker only smallpercentage of slurry on its exterior surface should react this way). 4.Add sticky organic substances to the slurry. Perhaps said organicsubstances are slightly in solution or perhaps their molecular weightsare too great for them to be dissolved (or there's some other reasonthey can't be dissolved). In fact, organics that don't fully dissolvecould replace inorganic grains that don't dissolve. In other words, theproduct would be a gel rather than slurry. Finally, this thick solventslurry or gel might itself be applied under or within protective foamthat retards evaporation of the solvent. Said protective foam would mostlikely be simultaneously applied by a separate set of nozzles on theremover.

-Think of small grains as having little capillaries between them thatare forced to form small capillaries that dead end at their line ofcontact no matter how big and non-porous the object is they're incontact with. The solvent in these capillaries dissolves the adhesive,which is carried off and diluted deep within the capillary channels bydiffusion (not capillary action).

-It is undesirable for the solvent in the slurry to evaporate becausethis means that it is no longer around to do its job. In order for thesolvent in a slurry to evaporate, it must evaporate through the pores onthe exterior surface of the slurry mass. These pores can be calledexterior terminal pores because they are the ends of the capillarytunnels exposed to the air. To prevent undesirable solvent evaporation,consider the possibility of using a substance that dissolves in thesolvent within the slurry-paste such that as the solvent evaporates fromthe exterior terminal pores this dissolved substance builds up cloggingthe exterior terminal pores. Thus, a “skin” is formed on the exterior ofthe solvent mass. This skin prevents further solvent evaporation fromthe paste. This same type of evaporation-preventing-skin-formationapproach could also be used in pastes and gels that are entirelyorganic. However, since in 100% organic gels there typically won't besmall particles, passageways or pores, the skin will be responsible forpreventing evaporation of the entire surface area of the solvent mass inenvelops.

-Gelatin can be an example of an organic molecule that really doesn'tdissolve in water but can retain it. Hot gelatin mixed with solvent andextruded under pressure is likely to stay put in the hair. Of course,there are many alternative organic molecules that could be used to makea solvent gel. Ideally, organic molecules that will retain a solventwithout fully dissolving in it and weakening its solvency should beused.

-The slurry-paste or gel could be extruded through a slot on the removeras if it were caulk. The extrusion could be completely powered from thebase unit and its rate synchronized with the remover's movement speedover the scalp to prevent excess solvent paste application.

-Alternatively, the remover's solvent could be introduced into an airstream by a liquid output nozzle close to the exit of its air outputnozzle. This would allow for fast adjustment of the application rate.

-By applying hair tension far enough back with the tensioning hairstraightener, at least during solvent paste application, the caulk-likeribbons of solvent can be placed at an exact distance from the scalp andtheir ribbon-like structure will help: 1. Support the detached hairs. 2.Hold hairs into pre-separated and straightened rows such that thestraightener need not be used on the remover's solvent washing pass, orat least it would not be used as vigorously. Note: The washing pass isthe second pass the remover usually makes. During this pass, it washesthe caulk-like ribbons of solvent from the hair after the solvent hasdissolved the hair extension attachments.

-Bald spots might present a problem in terms of protecting the scalpfrom solvent contact. To remedy this, hair sensors could be put in theremover. Solvent would not be applied in areas where there are too fewhairs. Alternatively, bald areas could be sprayed with a substance,perhaps a powder, that is less absorbent of the solvent than thepaste-forming solvent vehicle is. Such a substance could be appliedmanually to bald spots or sprayed on by the remover either using outputslocated below the solvent outputs or outputs that spray at a steep anglethat's sure to make it to the scalp through the hair.

-Solvents (usually organic) might be used on hair for various purposesincluding removing hair extension attached with adhesive orsolvent-dissolvable hair coatings. In order to reduce any drying effectthe solvent might have on the skin and hair, certain steps can be takenlike dissolving conditioners in it. These conditioners may includevarious substances known to form a protective film on keratinoussurfaces or an oily substance similar to the natural oils found in hair.Dissolving such substances in the solvent will reduce its ability todissolve adhesive, so their concentrations should be carefullycalibrated.

The ideal solvent dissolves adhesive (or coatings) fast and thoroughly,while robbing the hair of as little moisture and oily substances aspossible. The nail polish remover industry faces these same challenges.Prior art in this industry includes nail polish removers that combinepowerful solvents, like acetone or ethyl acetate, with proteins likecollagen. Said proteins form a protective film on the hair surface thathelps prevent moisture loss. We suggest that all prior art intended foruse nail polish removers be considered when formulating adhesive (orcoating) removal solvents for hair. Three of the most relevant U.S.patents concerning formulating gentle yet effective nail polish removersare U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,092 and 5,342,536 and 5,486,305.

Refinements and Ideas Concerning the System that Recycles or Disposes ofHair Extensions after They have been Removed from the Scalp

-Complete vacuum transfer may be optional if the grasp position at theremover is sufficient constant. If belts need to be transferred to asecond belt for any reason simply maintain engagement in one belt setand using vacuum to pull hair largely perpendicular to said belt setbefore introduction to a second parallel belt set. Also, a double beltremover is an option for getting hairs between to be held between twobelt sets.

-Potential problem: Overly short and/or overly curly hair extensionsmight jam the system. Overly short hairs might jam the vacuum transferunit by being sucked up as a clump or more likely overly short hairswould get conveyed to the clips as a clump. Overly curly-tipped hairextensions might not hang straight down into the attachment area.

Solutions:

-   -   --Apply water to hair extensions while they're being carried on        the first transport belt before they reach the vacuum transfer        unit. This is an effort to straighten hairs.    -   --Before the vacuum transfer unit, have the first transport        belts take the hair extensions through a process that removes        overly short hair extensions (too short to make it successfully        through the vacuum transfer unit). This process would consist of        first pulling hair extension straight down from the transport        belts by applying downward air currents (vacuumed or blown) or        any other functionally equivalent hair straightening means (said        belts may have to be turned upside first). During application of        downward air currents, a second lower transport belt system        should pinch/engage hair extensions at a distance far enough        below the first higher belt set that short hairs don't get        pinched. Next, the original and highest transport belt sets        should release their pinch on the hair extensions. Thus, overly        short hair extensions will no longer be pinched. Instead, they        will be vacuumed away and discarded. Next, upward air currents        should be applied to the belts. The higher transport belts        should resume their pinch. The lower transport belts could now        release their pinch, but they might continue to maintain it. At        this point, the belt system is only holding sufficiently long        hair extensions. The belt system can now enter the vacuum        transfer unit.

Note: In order to ensure that the upward air currents don't blow boththe upper and lower hair extension tips into the higher transport belt,the lower belts could be surrounded laterally by marginal platforms onboth sides. Ideally, these marginal platforms should begin after thelower belts have pinched the hair extensions but before the higher beltshave relinquished their pinch. The marginal platforms should continueuntil the upper transport belts have re-established their pinch. Themarginal platforms could be placed at a height above the lower transportbelt set's very bottom but below the upper transport belt. In order toprevent lower hair-extension tips from finding their way between themarginal platform and the lower transport belt, the platform mostoptimally be placed at the same height as the lower transport beltsystem such that it forms a seal around the lower transport belt system.In which case, upward air currents should originate at or above themarginal platform's surface.

-   -To remove overly curly tipped hair extensions, have the second    transport belts take them through a sorting process after the vacuum    transfer unit. First the upper second transport belts should release    their pinch on the hair extension. (Alternatively, the upper second    transport belt may be configured such that it hasn't yet pinched the    hair extension.) In an area where there are no upward air currents    straightening the upper tip of the hair extension, the upper second    transport belts should establish their pinch on the hair extensions.    Overly curly hair extension tips won't extend high enough to be    pinched. If the belts are moving so fast when the upper pinch    establishment area that air resistance causes even straight hair    extensions to bend, then reduce the air resistance by blowing from    behind, sucking from the front, or even establishing a sealed vacuum    chamber that is continually evacuated by suction. Optionally: Once    the upper transport belt has reestablished pinch, blow a sideways    air current between the upper and lower belt such that tips that are    just barely held by the upper belt are dislodged from it. Perhaps,    have a third level intermediate transport belts establish pinch on    the hair extensions during this blowing process. These middle belts    would be placed directly below the upper belts. Dislodged hair    extensions will be blown horizontal to such an extent that the    middle belts will not pinch them. Next: Have the lower belts release    pinch on the hair extensions. Vacuum away hairs that are dropped.    They are the overly curly hairs that didn't get pinched by the upper    transport belt. Using a marginal collar around the upper or middle    transport belt, create downward air currents. During this time, have    the lower belts re-establish their pinch on the hair extensions. If    a middle belt is used, have it release its pinch on the hair    extensions. Finally, create upward air currents, and have the upper    belts re-establish pinch on the hair extensions. The hair extensions    are now being held by an upper and lower set of second transport    belts, which are taking them to the hair extension clip filling    system.

Refinements and Ideas Concerning Independent (Optional) Accessories thatWork with the System

[[Independent Accessories for Safety and Convenience]]

The various hair processing systems described in this document canbenefit from certain independent accessories that work with suchsystems. Descriptions of such accessories follow.

Protective Eyeglasses and Masks

Protective eyeglasses or goggles could be used to protect a customer'seyes from any unhealthy agent that might escape from a hair processingsystem. The type of protection needed depends greatly on the embodimentof the processing system. However, such eyeglasses may protect againstagents like UV, solvents, and hot liquids. The eyeglasses may fit overthe ears in the normal manner. However, since the customer will mostlikely be wearing a track cap as shown in FIGS. 83 and 83.1, it islikely that the eyeglasses will somehow snap onto the track cap. Forexample, it is likely that the eyeglasses could engage the track guidesupporting perpendiculars below the ears and side burn area. Thesupporting perpendiculars are those portions of the track capperpendicular to the parallel track guide portions. A likely form ofengagement would be concentric cylinder over cylinder snap. For example,the cylinders attached to the eyeglasses could each be hollow with aslit in its bottom that allows it to fit over the cylindricalperpendiculars.

Such goggles might be equipped with a positive pressure air hose thatpumps clean air into said goggles in order to exclude solvent vaporsfrom them. This positive-pressure goggle assembly might even be extendeddown over the nose and mouth as a mask.

Braiding Gloves

In order prevent ripping off attached hair extensions by puttingexcessive force on them when styling the hair, for example when-braiding the. hair, braiding gloves could be used. These gloves have arelatively slippery surface, which is likely to be made slipperier byapplication of a lubricant. Hands wearing said gloves will be unlikelyto grasp any hair extensions tight enough to rip their attachments toscalp hairs. The storage case for these gloves should have a lubricantreservoir in it. In fact the gloves themselves should be stored withinthe lubricant reservoir or at least touching a lubricant soaked object,such as a storage case lining made of sponge. The gloves will mostlikely be made of a slippery cloth, such as silk, or have their surfacescoated with a low coefficient of friction material, such as Teflon.

Snap-to-Guide Track Place Holder

A snap-to-guide-track placeholder could be used to keep processed andunprocessed hairs separate so the attacher can be lifted from the scalpand refilled with a fresh cartridge, should the cartridge run out in themiddle of a track-length. In other words, the track cap has rows formedbetween parallel tracks. In the event that the hair attacher has to bepaused in the middle of a row, a placeholder constructed as a rod with aclasp on each end where said clasps are spaced one track width from eachother should be attached to the track at a point between the scalp hairsthat have been processed and those that have not. This should be donebefore the attachment system is moved away from the head. Theplaceholder, by holding the processed and unprocessed hairs apart, willallow the user to begin again where she left off. Ideally, the claspscan slide along the track so when the user begins she can slide the rodof the placeholder back over the processed hairs out of the way of thesystem. As long the rod is not slid too far back, it will make theprocessed hairs lay flat and keep them out the attachment system, evenif the attachment system touches them. The clasps I am referring to mostlikely are made out of a flexible material, have a largely circularcross-sections (or cross-section similar to each track's) with a slitnear the bottom each. Each slit, when pressed down over the track, firstflexibly widens over the track and then hugs around said track.

Custom Fabrication of a Track Cap

The track cap is illustrated in FIGS. 83 and 83.1. Although severalstandard sizes of prefabricated caps might be used, there might beadvantages to custom forming a track cap to an individual's head. Thebest way to do this is to start with components made out of a relativelyflexible material that can be treated to become a rigid material. Thetrack cap itself is composed of two types of tracks. Most tracks areguide tracks. These guide tracks are the many parallel tracks that runfrom front to the back on the head. These are the tracks that the hairattachment system is guided between. A second type of track is thesupporting tracks that hold the guide tracks together. These supporttracks run largely perpendicular to the guide tracks and largelyparallel to the hairline. There can be thought to be two support tracks,one in front of the hair running across the forehead, and one behind itrunning across the nape of the neck. However, these two support tracksusually connect together, often somewhere below the ear, to form asingle support structure that encircles the head. The support tracksshould maintain an adequate margin from the hairline so that they neveroverlie the hair, because this would obstruct the attachment system.

A custom-made track cap could be constructed in place on a customer'shead. This is begun by attaching both ends of each flexible guide trackmember perpendicularly with both the front most support track and therear most support track. The first guide track to be attached betweenthe two support tracks is the one most in the center and at the top ofthe head. Once this is done the two support tracks are conveniently heldtogether and one can work outwards symmetrically adding new guide trackson each side in turn. After all of the guide tracks are attached, bothends of one support track should be attached to the other support track.The guide tracks should be equally spaced, one standard track-widthapart through their entire length. This spacing can be accomplished byusing a device functionally the same as the snap-to-guide-trackplaceholder described above. These track spacing means should only beleft on the cap assembly until it is treated and becomes hard.

Although the support track might have receiving holes in it, it is bestif a clasp means is attached to the end of each guide track and thenclasped around the support track. Although guide tracks might have theirclasping means integrally attached to one end, the clasp means attachedto the opposite end of each guide track most ideally should be aseparate part from each guide track. This is because we don't know howlong each guide track should be, and each will have to be cut to size onthe head. If clasps were pre-attached to both ends of a guide track, oneclasp would probably have to be cut off anyway. Thus, a joinerconfigured as a separate part comprised of a clasp to fit around theside of the support track and attached perpendicularly to a clasp oropen-ended cylinder to fit around the end of a guide track. Thesejoiners themselves should probably be composed of a soft plastic thatbecomes rigid or otherwise permanently attached to the pieces they holdtogether.

However, independent joiners don't have to be used at the ends of allguide tracks. For example, the guide track to be used in the very middleof the head can be pre-attached to both support tracks. The assembly canbe molded this way as one piece. Similarly, all of the guide track tosupport track attachments on just one of the support tracks might beprefabricated at equal distances from each other. However, the remainingguide-track-to-support-track attachments shouldn't be made on the secondsupport track because this would make it difficult to get the tracks toconform to the shape of different-sized heads.

The previously described guide track spacers, which are to be used everyfew inches along the guide tracks and then removed after the cap ishardened, could each have one of its ends pre-attached to a guide trackand a clasp disposed on their other end. After hardening, these spacersshould be removed. Thus, ideally the preattached end is very thin andweak so that it can easily be cut or broken off. And the clasp endeither remains soft, (perhaps by making it out of a separate material),so that it doesn't engage its track very tightly, or is made thin orperforated so that it too can be removed from the guide track to whichit had been attached.

A Brush That Doesn't Get Caught between Hairs Attached in an UndesirableManner:

Also use of flexible bristles, bristles with balls, or other smoothobjects, at their ends, or large ends with a cone shape. In other words,brush or comb bristles (or bristle-like rods) with large ends can't getcaught between two scalp hairs that have been undesirably joinedtogether.

Hair Diameter Gauge

A hair diameter gauge that is made up of parallel narrowing channelsjuxtaposed with a diameter measuring scale inscribed on it is adesirable accessory. By using a form of precession manufacturing, suchas electro-forming, a comb-like device with narrowing funnel-likepassageways between its tines could be formed. These funnel-likepassageways could narrow down through the range of scalp hair diameters.The thinner a hair is the farther it could make towards the apex of eachpassageway. Juxtaposed to the passageways could be a scale indicatingtheir width at various points. By running this implement through thehair like a comb and then observing the narrowest diameter to which mosthairs make it, an estimate of the typical diameter of the hairs presenton a person's head can be made.

Crimping of Hairs Coated with a Wax-Like Temporary Protective Substancewhich Have Also Been Exposed to a Disulfide-Breaking Chemical.

In many cases it might be desirable to use chemical setting of the hairin conjunction with the special types of hair processing describedwithin this document. Before attaching cosmetic hair extensions, itmight be desirable to straighten a person's natural hair. Likewise,after hair extensions are attached, both the hair extensions and naturalhair could be given a permanent wave or curl together. Also, aftercross-sectional hair reshaping, it may be desirable to permanently setthe hair using chemicals. Such a procedure will help influence thedesired hair growth patterns. Whether the hair is straightened or giventight curls the procedure remains similar. Specifically, the hair has tobe treated with a chemical that will temporarily allow some of thedisulfide bonds in it to be temporarily broken and it must be set tohold it in the shape of a desired longitudinal curvature while thedisulfide bonds are allowed to reform.

However, there are some disadvantages with conventional hair settingmethods. In the case of hair curling, curlers are time consuming toapply. In the case of hair straightening, the chemical agents used areoften stronger than those used for curling and are not adequatelyprevented from coming in contact with the scalp. This causes irritationof the scalp. In both cases, the chemical agents tend to release anunpleasant odor. For these reasons, I have contrived an accessory thatperforms chemical hair setting without these disadvantages.

This device doesn't use curlers to temporarily set the hair in place.Rather, after a disulfide breaking chemical is applied to the hair, thedevice coats the hair with a temporary coating, such as wax. Thistemporary coating both alleviates the need for curlers by serving as afixation means itself and prevents the chemical agent from escaping fromthe hair, thereby preventing scalp irritation and odor.

For the temporary coating to hold the hair it a certain shape, it mustfirst be set in a particular shape itself. Crimping the wax-coated hairbetween surfaces in order to give said coated hair a desired shape canbest do this. These crimping surfaces could be referred to as crimpingirons. The wax, or other temporary coating material, has to be malleableenough to be crimped but firm enough to hold its shape. This might befacilitated by using heated crimping surfaces to soften the wax duringcrimping. The devices that apply the chemical, coat with temporarycoating, and crimp might be separate implements run through the hairindividually or built into a single unit. In many cases, it is desirableto configure the system with a bend-under means that will allow thehairs to be pulled through it. Processing areas can be formed along aspecific length of each hair channel, perhaps by isolating a limitednumber of hairs in said area. By holding hairs in a processing area,hairs can be pulled vertically through said processing area or evenindividual processing chambers. The processing occurring in this areamay include application of a chemical agent and protective temporarycoating and crimping.

Crimping should occur in segments starting at the proximal bases of thehairs and moving lengthwise towards the distal tips of the hairs. Thissegment-by-segment crimping should be facilitated by intermittentpulling of the hairs by a bend-under system, and/or a processing systemelevation means, such as originally described in thehair-cross-sectional reshaping embodiment, and referred to later as anintermittent elevating hair-buildup (in front of obstacle) preventionmeans.

Specifically, the bend-under system will pull a length of hair throughapproximately equal to the length of hair the crimping iron process in asingle step. Crimping is facilitated by crimping-iron surfaces disposedlargely parallel to lateral edges of each processing area channel andcapable of moving inwards into the processing area in order to crimp thelock of hair therein. Likely, the said crimpingiron surfaces will bedisposed as functional areas on moving tines or even supported bystationary channels and actuated by an intra-channel means of actuationlike micro-machines. The crimping-iron-placement relative to the hairshould be considered structurally homologous to the placement of theprotective side walls of the hair remover system shown in, and orificehalves in the coating/cross-sectional reshaping embodiment. Naturally,both the hair channels and the crimping irons are likely to beconfigured in a tine-based manner using connectivity bridges. Aconvex-shaped iron should be placed on one side of each hair channel andbe made capable of meshing with its concave counterpart on the otherside of the channel. Either both the convex and concave members movetogether to meet in the middle of their channel, or only one of them maymove in order to meet its static counterpart on its counterpart's side.

Crimping irons usually function in complementary concave/convex pairs ofcounterparts. However, their specific shape depends on the desireddegree of hair curliness. desired. If perfectly straight hair isdesired, each crimping-iron pair used will most likely be composed oftwo perfectly flat surfaces, neither convex nor concave. However, if acertain degree of hair curliness is desired, each half of a crimpingiron pair will have a somewhat semi-circular shape, one half convex, andthe other half the same shape but concave. Usually, this will mean eachcrimping-iron-pair half has a “C” cross-sectional shape. However, we canimagine each half having several semi-circular sections joined togetherforming a serpentine cross-section, such as an “S”-shape.

Of course, since different clients will desire a different curltightness and shape, so too will the exact shapes of the crimping ironshave to vary. This variance can be achieved by several methods. First,there can be several entire crimping-iron handle units each with its ownsize and shape of crimping iron. Alternatively, there can be a singlecrimping-iron handle unit to which various sizes and shapes of crimpingirons can be easily removed and attached. Finally, the cross-sectionalshape of the crimping iron surfaces might be given the ability toactually change their shape under the guidance of an automatedmechanism. To illustrate, the crimping-iron surfaces could be composedof a flexible sheet or film on the interior (non-hair-touching side) ofwhich rods or bars move to support and influence its shape. Said movablerods could be firmly attached to said flexible sheet, in which case, thediameter, or height, of the crimping surface would vary with its degreeof curvature. As an alternative, said movable rods could freely sliderelative to said flexible sheet. In which case, the crimping surfacediameter, or height, could remain the same at any degree of curvature solong as the flexible sheet is held against the movable rods by astretchable means, such as springs. Of course, it should be obvious thatmany hybrids of the attached-rod and sliding-rod system can be readilyimagined. For example, an attached-rod system that maintains itsdiameter at different curvatures because its flexible sheets is itselfcomposed of a flexible material. Likewise, a sliding-rod system whichuses an attached-rod configuration at only a few strategic points, suchas to the most interior concave point of a concave curvature in order tohold the sheet inward over all the rods.

Notes:

-   -This device is largely homologous to the automated hair-cutting    embodiment except the cutters have been substituted for crimping    irons. With respect to applying coatings and chemicals, this device    may be homologous to embodiments that use orifice halves to apply    coatings to hairs pulled lengthwise through them.-   -This is a device that crimps disulfide-breaking-chemical soaked/    wax-coated hairs in order to replace the need for curlers. (The wax    or other temporary coating placed on the hair serves as a fixation    means replacing curlers.)-   -The system might spray the chemical and/or temporary fixative    coating on using nozzles that spray a great numbers of hairs at a    time, like in the remover.-   Alternatively, it may use small nozzles or coating orifice halves    like those described for the cross-sectional reshaping/hair coating    system embodiment. Like it the fashion described for the remover, it    may (or may not) also apply a protectant to the scalp.-   -The system may also have a twist function built into it so that the    entire system or part (like a tine-assembly or functional hair    handler portion) of it twists relative to the scalp, thereby,    imparting a spiral twist to the hairs strands that pass through it    in addition to, or instead of, a crimp-generated wave.-   -Since the system applies the disulfide breaking (or any other type    of hair processing chemicals) accurately; it can keep them off the    scalp. Additionally, since the system applies a coating over said    chemicals it can contain their odor and prevent them form rubbing    off of the hairs onto the scalp.-   -For disulfide-breaking chemicals can be substituted any substance    which can used to change the longitudinal curvature of hair either    permanently or temporarily. For example, NaOH can be used to relax    curliness of hair, thereby, making it straighter.-   -Application of longitudinal-curvature-changing chemicals,    protective coating, and crimping may all occur on the same or    different passes over the head. Mostly likely, curvature-changing    chemicals are applied followed by the protective coating in the one    pass over the head, and crimping is performed in a second. A third    pass (optional) may use methods, as those described for the remover,    to remove the protective coating. All of these functions might be    integrated into a single system in one handle unit or placed on    different handle units.-   -Protective coating application often includes application of a    coolant to facilitate said coating's hardening.-   -Crimping during lengthwise pull through is optional. Crimping could    be handled by a more conventional implement such a conventional    crimping iron or curling iron without the automated lengthwise    pull-through function.-   -Also, the heart of this embodiment is applying a temporary    protective coating to hair which is capable of acting as a temporary    fixation means and/or protective coating means while a more    permanent hut somewhat slower-acting hair    longitudinal-curvature-changing substance has been applied to the    hair. Thus, any means of applying such a coating and such    longitudinal-curvature-changing substance fall under this    embodiment.    Use of Hot Iron Straightening Combs in Sets with Decreasing Tine    Spacing-   -Certain people have such tight curly hair that many of these    processing systems might not be able to be run through it unless    said hair is first straightened (curliness removed) at least    temporarily. One way to do this is to use conventional hot iron    straightening combs. However, to best prepare the hair a set of    several combs each with increasingly narrower hair channels    (decreasing tine spacing) could be used. The wider-channel tines    could be used as a preliminary measure and the narrower-channel    tines for further refinement. This set of tines might be mounted in    the conventional manner on conventional handles using one type of    tine-width per handle. Further, increasingly narrower tine combs    could be mounted together longitudinally into a single assembly so    that the when combed through the hair, areas on the head are exposed    to increasingly narrower tines in a single pass. Additionally, such    hot iron combs (individual or sets) could be mounted in a manner    homologous to the hair tensioning straightener, for example, ahead    of a processing stack or system. Further, such hot iron combs    (individual or sets) could be mounted ahead of the hair tensioning    straightener. Finally, the hair tensioning straightener could be    made the functional equivalent of a hot iron comb by heating it to a    sufficiently high temperature. Such devices can be used to make sure    even the coarsest and tightest-curled hair flows smoothly through    the processing system without getting jammed in it.

Refinements Concerning the Manufacture of Hair Extensions and FillingCartridges with Them

***Hair Extension Factory Manufacturing

-Keratin Extrusion Manufacturing Process

Previously, it was mentioned that an ideal source of hair extensions ismanufacturing them from animal sources of keratin. Usually, this wouldinvolve dissolving and extruding animal keratin into fibers shaped likehuman hairs. There are many animal sources of keratin including hair,wool, hooves, and feathers. Chicken feathers because of their lack ofpigmentation, low cost and vascular structure, which allows for rapidchemical degradation, are an excellent keratin source. Because thesefibers are comprised of proteins very similar to those found in humanhairs, they should behave like human hairs. In other words, they can bestyled into whatever hairstyle a person desires. This is possiblebecause proteins, unlike most synthetic polymers, soften and changetheir shape when exposed to water. When dried, this allows the hair tobe set. Extruded keratin is an ideal hair extension source, not justbecause it is relatively inexpensive, but also because it allowsman-made fibers to be used which helps to standardize the entireattachment process. The following steps outline a basic process thatcould be used to manufacture extruded keratin hair extensions:

1. The keratin source, such as feathers, should be mechanically washedand then chemically dissolved. Dissolve the keratin using a thiol tobreak the disulfide bonds and a detergent that will allow the keratin tobe dissolved in solution. Once chemically dissolved, the keratin may ormay not suitable for extrusion. If there are undesirable impurities inthe keratin that we do not want in the extruded hair extensions, thenonce in solution, the keratin should be purified by methods such asfiltering and chemical manipulations. Most of this process should occurin the absence of oxygen because oxygen will neutralize the thiolallowing the disulfide bonds to once again establish themselves.

If the keratin source is a slightly softer type of keratin than humanhair, it might be harden by increasing the cross-linking in its chemicalstructure, for example by vulcanization. In the case of vulcanization,this is to say additional disulfide bonds should somehow be introducedinto the protein structure. However, if the keratin source is a slightlyharder type than human hair, some of its disulfide bonds should beremoved. This is probably best done by introducing chemicals that reactwith the cystine sulfurs so that they do not form disulfide bonds. Ofcourse, it would probably be too difficult to remove the sulfur entitiesthemselves without destroying the protein structure. A third option toachieve the correct keratin hardness is to mix keratin from two sources.Once source is harder than human hair, the other softer. A variant ofthis third solution is to mix an overly hard type of keratin with asofter synthetic polymer that acts as a plasticizer. Polyurethane shouldbe an excellent choice to act as plasticizer.

2. The keratin and any other structurally compatible compounds thatremain should be extracted from solution or transformed into a moreconcentrated solution. For example, this achieved by evaporation of thesolution or some form of chemical precipitation. The keratin shouldstill have a thiol concentration great enough for it to remain soft.Probably, it should be brought a paste-like consistency. The dissolvedkeratin should probably still be protected from atmospheric oxygen atthis point.

3. Optional: This keratin paste should be mixed with color pigments toachieve the desired hair color. This mixing should probably occur in anairtight container that does not allow oxygen to come in contact withthe softened keratin. By mixing the coloring agent in before fiberextrusion, subsequent dying will not be necessary. Pigments mixed intothe fiber will likely be more stable than many dyes applied by soaking.Additionally, if any plasticizers are to be mixed in that could not havebeen added previously, they should be mixed into the keratin paste now.

4. The thiol containing softened keratin should be feed from a storagecontainer to a gear pump, or equivalent, which extrudes it through aspinneret. The keratin source container and gear pump should not allowoxygen to come in contact with their contents. The keratin used shouldbe free of all gas bubbles and soft enough to make it through the smalldiameter spinneret holes but hard enough that once extruded theresulting fibers won't readily deform or stick together. Optionally: Thekeratin fibers should be allowed to fall onto a screen conveyor beltthat moves at their extrusion speed.

5. The extruded keratin fibers should be allowed to come in contact withsufficient oxygen to neutralize the thiol in them so that they mayharden. This may mean blowing air over the fibers or spraying them willa thiol neutralizing liquid. After neutralization, the fibers should bewashed of extraneous chemicals.

6. Optional: The now hardened keratin fibers, presumably washed ofextraneous chemicals, should continue down their screen conveyor belt,or path, where they are sprayed, or soaked, with a solution that coatsthem with a protective coating.

A protective coating is a concern for the following reasons. Normalhuman hairs are largely made up of one homogenous blend of keratins.However, their surfaces have a thin protective cuticle layer of muchharder keratin than the rest of the hair. This protective cuticle layerregulates the rate at which moisture and ions can enter and exit thehair. A hair stripped of this barrier might dry and become brittlebecause water exits from it too fast or it might allow undesirabledissolved substances to enter the hair. A protective coatingsemi-permeable to moisture can take the place of this cuticle. Thisprotective coating might be a hard form of keratin, keratin mixed with asynthetic polymer, or an entirely synthetic polymer. In many cases, theprotective coating should be dissolved because it is broken down tomonomer or short chain. lengths, or if it has disulfide bonds that aretemporarily broken.

This coating, or its polymer sub-units in solution, should have anaffinity for the surface of each hair. However, this coating should beapplied thin enough such that after it hardens around the surface of thehair fiber, it does not greatly affect the flexibility of the innerkeratin fiber. For this reason, said coating should be designed suchthat only a certain amount of it can coat a hair's surface regardless ofthe amount applied. This might mean that the coating is composed of thestructural polymer sub-units and a filler substance that is alsoattracted to the surface of the hair, however, later can be washed away.Perhaps, once the coating is hardened this filler substance could bewashed away leaving only the very thin and somewhat porous polymercoating. The use of such a washable filler is a potential method forincreasing a coating's porosity and permeability while setting and upperlimit on coating thickness. Alternatively, the chemical properties ofthe coating and the solution it is in could be chosen to control thecoating's affinity for the hair's surface.

The coating, when applied, should be of sufficiently high molecularweight that it couldn't be absorbed into the porous structure of thehair extension fiber. At the same time, this high molecular weightshould not lead to such a high viscosity that applying a thin coat ofcoating isn't feasible. For these reasons, it might be desirable todilute the coating chemical in a solvent. Of course, this same solvent'sproperties should be chosen so as to control the affinity between thekeratin fiber's surface and the polymer sub-units or monomers.

A coating molecule should be chosen such that it forms a polymer thatadheres to the keratin fiber surface, allows adhesives to hold on to it,and is not weakened by the solvents and other removal means used todetach the attachment adhesives. Such coating-to-fiber surface adherencewould likely be facilitated by using a coating chemical capable ofengaging in disulfide bonding with the keratin fiber surface.

7. Optional: The screen conveyor belt, or any other form of conveyor,should pass through some means of removing excess coating liquid, suchas squeezing rollers or a vacuum under the screen belt. The excessliquid coating should be removed and perhaps returned for reuse. Theresult will be individual hairs evenly coated with a thin coating.

8. Optional: If necessary, the coated hairs could have an initiator washapplied to them to harden their coatings. By initiator, I am referringto a substance that starts the chemical hardening process, such as afree radical that starts a polymerization reaction.

9. Optional: The screen conveyor should pass through some means ofremoving excess liquid that returns the excess initiator liquid forreuse.

10. Optional: The hairs should once again be washed to remove anyextraneous substances.

11. Optional: Once again, the hairs should pass through a liquid removalmeans. However, the liquid removed is considered waste, which needs tobe disposed.

12. The extruded hairs are brought together in bundles and then eitherwound up on spools for storage or sent to cutting machines that cut thecontinuous hair bundles to a length that can be used by the hairattachment system.

13. Optional: The cut bundles of hair are conveyed on a belt system to avacuum transfer belt junction. This should be a transfer unit, similarthe one illustrated for use with the hair extension recycling system, inFIG. 86, but that has multiple incoming belts but only one outgoingbelt. This outgoing belt, of course, is used to fill the hair extensioncartridges. This modified use of several incoming belts allows severalbatches of hair extensions to be mixed uniformly together. Each of themixed batches should be a slightly different color or texture. Thisprocess is desirable because natural hairs on a head are not all exactlythe same. Thus, this mixing scheme achieves a natural looking texturingand coloring patterns. It gives the hair highlights. Of course, such amixing system could also be supplied with hairs that were previouslywound up on a spool.

14. Optional: From the vacuum transfer junction, hairs should be sent toa clip filler device. This device should have some means of sensing theamount of hair it puts in each clip. When one clip, or set of clips, isfull the next clip, or clips, in the series should be advanced intoposition and filled.

-General Notes on Mechanical Fiber Quality and Manufacturing

Mixing of Different Batches of Hair:

A vacuum transfer system is not the only way of mixing multiple batchesof hair. Several slightly different types (colors or textures) of hairfrom different sources could be laid on a conveyor belt together. Thiswould be form of mixing. Additionally, hairs from several differentsources could simply be brought together as a single bunch before beingplaced into the clip cartridges.

Design of Spinnerets and Otehr Extrusion Equipment Used:

The holes of the spinneret might be cut into a non-moving plate, as isthe more conventional approach. Alternatively, the spinneret holes mightbe configured as notches cut into the outer surfaces of two cylinderswhose outer surfaces are rotating against each other. The inner-surfacesof these extrusion holes would, in effect, be moving at the same speedas the keratin they're extruding. This would greatly reduce extrusionfriction on the fiber surfaces in comparison to holes cut through thethickness of a non-moving plate. This moving cylinder approach isanalogous to that used by steel manufactures to extrude beams and rails.

The moving-cylinder-extrusion approach has other advantages. Forexample, these notched cylinders can be fed not only by a softenedkeratin paste, but also by a flat sheet of keratin delivered by othercylinders behind them. Said sheet will be cut and shaped into fibers bythe notched cylinders. Additionally, the notched cylinders can be fed byextremely fat fibers or bars of keratin. One way this can be done is byplacing relatively large extrusion holes behind the cylinders that wouldextrude thick bar-like keratin. These holes would most likely be cutthrough a non-moving plate in the manner of most conventional spinneretorifices. Next, the front-most notched cylinder pairs would beresponsible for narrowing this bar-like keratin down to the correctdiameter and shape and imparting the desired texture of the final hairfibers. Alternatively, fibers extruded with a larger diameter might bebrought to their correct diameter by passing through a mechanismdesigned to stretch them out by drawing, thereby decreasing theirdiameters.

Also, the cylinder approach allows the cross-section of a hair to varywith hair length and even makes it possible to use cylinders that bythemselves cut off the hairs coming out of them so that they onlyproduce hairs of a certain length, rather than endless strands that needto be cut. This could be achieved by using two cylinders withdiscontinuous extrusion notches. Further, it would require that therotation of these cylinders be synchronized. Such systems could producehair extensions of varying cross-section, hair extensions cut to length,and even hair extensions with widened ends that can serve as anchors, asthose used by hair implants below the skin, or to otherwise aid laterprocessing or use.

Using rotating cylinders allows greater control of hair surface texturecompared with conventional spinneret holes with static edges.Static-edge holes tend to smooth and polish the surfaces of the fibersthey extrude. This may produce hairs that are too shiny. It is true thatthis shine from the polishing can be reduced if the edges of theextrusion holes have small groves on their surfaces parallel to thedirection of extrusion. However, this produces long continuous scratcheson the fiber surface, which may not yield the precise appearancedesired. Fortunately, extrusion holes made using rotating cylinders donot polish the fibers that they extrude. Further, the inner-surfaces ofthe cylinder notches can be textured themselves and will transfer theexact mirror image of this texture to the fiber they are extruding. Thisprovides much greater control of fiber surface texture.

Surface texture can also be roughened by rapid changes in temperatureafter extrusion. For example, if still relatively soft extruded keratinfiber is rapidly cooled by exposure to a very cold liquid or gas, itssurface may wrinkle. This temperature-induced wrinkling can becalibrated to produce the precise surface texture desired.

In contrast to fiber surface texture, there is hair texture. Forexample, too kinky and too stiff describe two undesirable types of hairtexture. Hair texture greatly depends on the cross-section of the hairfiber. Hairs must have an ideal diameter and shape to be cosmeticallyideal. For example, hairs with round cross-sections are generallystraight while those with oblong cross-sections are curlier. Hairs withoverly large diameters are stiff while hairs with overly thin diametersare undesirably delicate and wispy. For this reason, the cross-sectionalwidth and shape of extruded hairs must be carefully chosen andcontrolled. Thus, the spinneret holes used will like vary in diameterand shape from perfectly round through oval.

Sealing the Roller System

In the roller system, unlike with conventional static spinneret holes,the passage that carries the fiber-forming-material flow from the pumpto the first set of extrusion orifices cannot be one continuousstructure. This supply passage in the roller system must be anindependent part from the rollers, so that they can rotate. However,this independent supply passage should form such a tight seal with therollers that the fiber-forming-material flow does not escape to theirsides, rather than being forced through their extrusion holes. Thismeans that the supply passage must conform to the shape of the back ofthe roller assembly and it should probably contact the rollers using aconforming flexible material in order form a good seal. The rollers mustbe supported and driven from at least one end. Thus, the area of sealcontact should only contact the central bodies of the rollers, avoidingthe more lateral support and driving mechanisms. This is because thesemore lateral mechanisms, such as gears, are likely to have a morecomplex structure that is difficult to form a seal against.

The rollers, such as shown in FIG. 145, should be set up in pairs, asshown by FIG. 146. Each roller in a pair should have concave notches,with largely semicircular cross-sections, carved into its surface asrings around its circumference. The semi-circular notches on one rollershould mesh with mirror-image notches on the other roller, in order toform, largely circular, spinneret extrusion holes. Each roller in a pairshould rotate in an opposite rotational direction, but in the samelinear direction and speed at their point of tangency. Usually, thelinear speed should be calibrated to be the same as that of fiberextrusion. The line of tangency between each pair of rollers will form asingle line of fiber extrusion holes parallel to each other.

Several pairs of rollers in parallel may share the samefiber-forming-material supply passage. In this case, some effort shouldbe made to seal the areas between roller pairs. This seal might be aflexible conforming material pressed up between roller pairs, mostlikely from behind, where behind is the direction from which thefiber-forming material comes. On the other hand, this seal might beachieved by placing raised ridges with largely semi-circularcross-sections as rings around the rollers, such as the roller shown inFIG. 144. These convex semi-circular rings will mesh with the concavesemi-circular notches on the adjacent roller in another roller pair, asshown in FIG.146. This will seal notches, which would have, otherwise,been left open between roller pairs. Two semi-circular notches ondifferent roller pairs should not be used as an extrusion orificebecause their linear direction of movement is backwards and againstextrusion flow. Any fiber extruded from such a hole would experience arubbing force on its surface opposite to its direction of extrusion.However, the entire purpose of using rollers is to reduce the rubbing anextruded fiber experiences.

Entirely Mechanical Kneading System

Although less likely to produce the highest quality of artificial hairfibers, solely mechanical methods that extrude keratin withoutchemically dissolving it first might be practical. Such a system mightfirst unify individual pieces of keratin such as feathers or hairs intoa single large object. It might do this by putting them under enormouspressure by using a means such as a piston in a cylinder. It mightfurther homogenize this large keratinous object by kneading it. It mightknead by using a rotational means that pulls and pushes on thekeratinous object. Alternatively, kneading might be achieved byextruding the keratin through multiple pathways that intersect with eachother. Homogenization can also be achieved by first grinding the keratininto a fine powder before putting it under mechanical pressure.

Fiber Compositions and Coatings

The reason for a semi-permeable coating around the hair shaft is largelyto control the moisture level in the hair. Adequate moisture in the hairhelps keep the hair soft. This is largely how conditioners work to keephairs soft. However, conditioners are not permanently polymerized aroundhair shafts. A moisture barrier does not just keep the hair soft byallowing the hair to retain a minimum amount of moisture. It may alsoprevent the hair from absorbing too much moisture especially on humiddays. Hairs with too much moisture might be too soft and limp, or mightbecome frizzy. In short, the coating forms an artificial protectivecuticle around the extruded keratin shaft. If possible, it would bebeneficial to make this protective barrier Ultra Violet impermeable.Also, this barrier should protect against chemicals and ions by keepingthem from being absorbed by the keratin protein. Conceivably, thiscoating could even increase the shine of a keratin fiber's surface. Itshould not be such a perfect barrier that no water can enter or exit thehair. If this were the case, the hair might behave as it were aconventional plastic. In which case, water could not be used toinfluence the styling of such hairs. HAIR COATINGS CAN BE APPLIED AT THEFACTORY TO ARTIFICIAL HAIRS OR THEY TYPE USED FOR CROSS-SECTIONALRESHAPING PROCESS IN A SALON.

Certain fiber compositions make protective coatings less necessary.These compositions are less vulnerable to drying and becoming brittleand to absorbing undesirable substances from the environment than ismost hair keratin. They accomplish this by being allied with syntheticnon-amino acid substances. This might mean that the keratin protein ismixed with another substance such as a plasticizer. This mixed substancemay help soften the fiber, or impede the entrance and exit of allsubstances including water. Fibers composed of such substances mighthave a lower water content than would expected with pure keratin.Nevertheless, the mixed in plasticizer will keep them soft. Furtherstill, such fibers would be expected to have a higher water content thanconventional plastic fibers would. This would allow hairstyling. Themixed-in substance may or may not itself be a polymer and may or may notbe chemically cross-linked to the keratin or keratin-like material.

Keratin and keratin-like materials maybe be made softer and lessvulnerable in ways other than infusing a plasticizer into them. Forexample, the keratin-like polymer chains can themselves be a co-polymerwith a non-amino-acid-based monomer unit in them. Keratin-likesub-chains joined with urethane sub-chains are such an example. Thepresence of urethane sub-chains will both soften the fibers and reducetheir vulnerability to the environment.

Although synthetic hairs should generally be formed from substances thatbehave like keratin, true keratin is not necessarily the only option. Weuse the term keratin-like to refer to substances that behave likekeratin. Most substances that are keratin-like will be expected to havea chemical structure similar to keratin. This includes various proteinsand poly-amino acids.

Proteins are intricate sequences of amino acids arranged in order by thedesign of nature. Poly-amino acids are long polymers of amino acid unitswith a random order, determined only by the monomer units present duringpolymerization. Poly-amino acids may be composed entirely of one type ofamino acid or several types of amino acids.

Below, are several types of keratin-like chemical compositions that canbe used to manufacture artificial hairs (specifically entire hairfibers):

-   --Pure thiol (or other disulfide-bond breaking chemical) dissolved    keratin.-   --Keratin proteins broken down into protein sub-chains (for example,    by hydrolysis) which are then converted to reactive entities (for    example, acid anhydrides or chlorides) that are allowed to react    together to reform long structural keratin-like molecules.    -   ---Where these keratin protein sub-chains are reacted together        with non-amino acid based monomers or sub-chain units to form a        co-polymer.        -   ---Where the non-amino-acid-based entity is one or more of            the following: urethane monomer, short poly-urethane chain,            or one of the sub-components used in the manufacture of the            urethane monomer such as an isocyanate or polyol or any            synthetic monomer or sub-chain capable of forming a peptide            bond--like polyols or any synthetic monomer or sub-chain            capable of forming a peptide bonds, for example, like            various polyols.    -   ---Where these keratin protein sub-chains are reacted together        with amino-acid based monomers or sub-chain units to form a        co-polymer.-   --Keratin (or keratin-like) molecule with synthetic polymer (or    other structurally compatible non-keratin substance) mechanically    mixed in with it, perhaps to serve as a plasticizer or change    physical properties of the mixture like water permeability.    -   --Where said synthetic polymer (or non-keratin substance) is        polyurethane    -   --Where said synthetic polymer is a poly-amino acid    -   ---Where said synthetic polymer is chemically cross-linked to        the keratin or keratin-like material.        -   ---Where this chemical cross-linking is done through            disulfide bonds.-   --Poly-amino acid polymer with synthetic polymer mixed in with it,    for example to serve as a plasticizer or change one or more physical    qualities.    -   ---Where said synthetic polymer is poly-urethane    -   ---Where said synthetic polymer is chemically cross-linked to        the poly-amino acid polymer.        -   ---Where this chemical cross-linking is done through            disulfide bonds.-   --Poly-amino acid and non-amino acid entities reacted together as a    copolymer.    -   ---Where the non-amino-acid-based entity is one or more of the        following: urethane monomer, short poly-urethane chain, or one        of the sub-components used in the manufacture of the urethane        monomer such as an isocyanate or polyol or any synthetic monomer        or sub-chain capable of forming a peptide bonds, for example,        like various polyols.        There are several types of chemical compositions that can be        used to serve as protective coatings around hair fibers,        regardless of whether said fibers are artificial or natural        hairs. (These coatings can also be used for cross-sectional        reshaping of the size and shape of individual scalp hair        diameters.):-   -Any of the above described compositions for manufacturing fibers    can be applied for use as fiber/hair coatings as well, in addition    to the below . . .-   -Extruded keratin (or keratin-like material) or natural hair coated    with any of the following:    -   --A different type of keratin dissolved by disulfide-bond        breaking chemicals (for example, a type, that has a greater        degree of disulfide cross linking)    -   --A poly-amino acid.    -   --A poly-amino acid urethane co-polymer    -   --Poly-amino acid and non-amino acid entities together as a        copolymer.        -   ---Where the non-amino-acid-based entity is one or more of            the following: urethane monomer, short poly-urethane chain,            or one of the sub-components used in the manufacture of the            urethane monomer such as an isocyanate or polyol or any            synthetic monomer or sub-chain capable of forming a peptide            bond--like, for example, like various polyols.-   --Keratin (or keratin-like material) with a non-amino-acid-based    polymer mixed in with it, such as to serve as a synthetic    plasticizer    -   ---Where said synthetic polymer is chemically cross-linked to        the keratin or keratin-like polymer.        -   ---Where this chemical cross-linking is done through            disulfide bonds.-   --A poly-amino acid with a non-amino-acid-based polymer mixed in it,    such as to serve as a synthetic plasticizer    -   ---Where said synthetic polymer is chemically cross-linked to        the poly-amino acid polymer.        -   ---Where this chemical cross-linking is done through            disulfide bonds.            Hair-Fiber Designs that Ensure Strong Attachment to Scalp            Hairs            Use of Slippery Coatings:

Although the most obvious way of ensuring that hair extensions remainattached to scalp hairs is using the strongest possible adhesive,another way is make the surface of the attached hair extensionslipperier. If the surface of a hair extension is slippery, it becomesmuch more difficult to grasp and pull firmly enough that its attachmentwill fail. For this reason, coating fibers with a low coefficient offriction substance such as Teflon is desirable. However, using such acoating might have disadvantages. For example, the coating might retardthe entrance and exit of moisture to such a degree that the hair cannotbe styled. Further still, such a coating might have such a greatnon-stick effect that adhesive will not work effectively on it.

To alleviate these disadvantages, the coating could be applied in apattern so that it does not coat the entire surface of the fiber. Thiswill allow moisture exchange and adhesive contact with the uncoatedareas of fiber surface. In order to maintain the coating'slow-coefficient-of-friction effect, the coating thickness to spacingbetween coated areas ratio should be high. This way, fingers that graspthe fiber will only come in contact with the slippery coating, not theless slippery uncoated areas of the fiber.

In order to produce the interrupted coating pattern on the fibers, someprinting means needs to be used. This can involve any type of printingtechnology, or other analogous pattern-forming technology, availableincluding laser printer, ink jet printer, and offset press technologies.For example, the fibers could be run between flexible rubber cylindersthat print a pattern on them. This pattern can be the coating resinitself, which will subsequently be cured by some means such as heat.Alternatively, this pattern could be a masking substance with thepurpose of preventing the coating resin from sticking to areas where ithas been applied. Of course, after this masking substance, the coatingresin would be subsequently applied and cured, and then the maskingsubstance itself would be removed. In a similar fashion, entire fiberscould be coated and then areas of the coating could be removed with adirected energy source, such as a laser.

Using Notches and Holes through Hair Fibers:

Another way of keeping hair extensions more firmly attached is to givetheir adhesive a structure that is most ideal for it to adhere. Althoughthere are adhesives that can effectively attach two smooth fibers'surfaces to each other, if the surfaces were made more porous, theadhesives would work even better.

One way of making a hair extension surface more porous is to cut holesor notches in it. A possible way to do this is to run the hair fiberthrough a hole to support and steady it while cutting holes in it with alaser or other analogous focused-energy device. Possibly, even aprecisely manufactured mechanical implement could be advanced into thehair in order to notch it or make small holes through it. Such amechanical device might take the form of a pincher that grasps the hairfrom two opposing directions simultaneously in order to steady it.Regardless of whether directed energy or a mechanical means is used,this fiber perforation means might be used shortly after the hair fiberhas been extruded or the hair fiber has been unwound from a storagespool. Whether directed energy or mechanical, the perforation means islikely configured as a tined-fork. In the case of a directed energytined-fork, for a visual analogy, refer to the previously describedfork-like prism that uses internal reflection to distribute UV light inorder to cure adhesive. In the case of a mechanical tined-fork, for avisual analogy, refer to just about any of the moving hair handlingtines previously described for use in attachment stack, such as.

-Sorting of Natural Hair to Packages as End Product

Ways of Sorting Hair Extensions into Groups of Equal Length:

Although it is desirable to use man-made hair, hair fibers obtained fromhumans or animal sources is an option. The basic mechanisms previouslydescribed for use in the salon-based hair extension recycling system canalso be used in a factory that fills hair extension clip cartridges withhuman hair. Hair could be cut off the head using a mechanism similar tothe remover, but instead of applying solvent to the head, it would cutthe hairs, by having cutting shears incorporated into the remover as astructural layer. The first transport belts would take the hairs fromthe remover to a mechanism similar to the hair extension recyclingsystem. As described before, this system would line the hair extensiontips up in one direction such that the conveyor belts are grasping thehairs all at an equal distance from their tips. At this point, the hairscould be fed into clip cartridges, as in the previously described salonversion of the hair recycling system. However, head hair is a mixture ofmany lengths, and it might be desirable to sort them by length first.

Sorting Hairs by Length:

The following procedure could be used to sort hairs by length. Oncehairs are grasped at an equal distance from their tips by a graspingconveyor system, introduce a vacuum source approximately in line withthe grasping conveyor, positioned on the same side of the conveyor asthe variable hair lengths, and at a distance greater than the length ofthe very longest hair. This vacuum will pull all the conveyor-held hairslargely straight. Between the vacuum source and this first graspingconveyor, place a second grasping conveyor system. Only the longesthairs will be able to reach this second conveyor system. If necessary,place funneling guides in front of this second conveyor system in orderto guide hairs into it. The longest hairs are now held by two conveyorsystems. By making the second conveyor system grab each hair tighterthan the first one and then by making it take a diversionary course awayfrom the first one, the longest hairs will carried away by the secondconveyor system, and the shortest hairs will remain in the firstconveyor system. For this reason, I call the second conveyor system thesorting conveyor system. Hairs of increasingly shorter length can besorted out by running the first conveyor system through a series stagesthat repeat this process. However, in each progressive stage, thesorting conveyor system should be placed closer to the first conveyorsystem. Thus, shorter and shorter hairs will be obtained from eachstage. The end result is hairs sorted by length.

When speaking of a grasping conveyor system, it should be understood tomean any means capable of rotary or reciprocating motion and pinchinghairs. Likewise, the vacuum source should be thought of as a hairtensioning means. Any other force capable of hair tensioning might beused. For example, blown air currents, static electricity, or amechanical means that gently pinches or rubs the hairs moving them awayfrom the hair-grasping conveyor are other options. Such a mechanicalsystem is similar to the type previously described for use as astraightener for the attachment stack.

Such a sorting system might be used as an industrial method ofharvesting real human hair cut from human heads. Alternatively, it mightbe incorporated into the salon-based hair-recycling unit. In this secondconfiguration, it would serve to recycle only sufficiently long hairswhile discarding excessively short natural hairs.

Ways of Filling Hair Extension Clip Cartridges:

Regardless of how hair extensions are obtained, they should be put intoclip cartridges. Usually, instead of directly filling the cartridgesused by the attachment stack, a disposable introduction cartridge, asshown in FIG. 99, will be filled at the factory. However, the followingsystems for filling clip cartridges work for both types of clipcartridges, disposable introduction and small attachment stack-ready.

If the hair extensions are man-made, this will usually mean that theyare hundreds or thousands of feet long. This will allow cartridges to befilled in a continuous manner. Whether directly obtained from theextrusion spinnerets or first rolled up on spools, the terminal ends ofthese man-made hair extension fibers should be brought together inbunches large enough to fill each clip entirely. There should be as manyof these bunches, as there are clips in a batch of clip cartridges thatneed to be filled. These bunches should be held separate from eachother. Ideally, whatever separates these bunches should have a similarshape, width and spacing as the hair-holding interior channels of theclips of clip cartridges. This is to say that it should be composed ofmany separate parallel hair-holding channels, and all said channelsshould superimpose congruently on those of several clip cartridgesarranged in a straight line. Probably, the hair-holding channels of thisbunch-separating means should be just slightly wider than the interiorsof the clips of the cartridges because they should not grasp the hairextensions as tightly as said clips. This bunch-separating means can beopen on one side or closed on all sides.

The bunch-separating means should be used to help fill the clipcartridges in the following manner. First, a desired length of hairshould be pulled through the bunch-separating means. Next, the clipcartridges should be aligned with bunch-separating means, if they arenot already. The clip cartridges and bunch-separating means can approacheach other from below or above, their front or their backs. Naturally,there should be some fixture that holds the cartridges and helpsfacilitate this alignment. Once aligned with the bunch-separating means,the clips of the clip cartridges will, in effect, be filled with hairextensions. Finally, a cutting means should cut the hair extensions at avery short distance above the clips of the clip cartridges. These filledclip cartridges can now be moved away, and a new group of empty clipcartridges can be brought in to take their place.

Ideally, it would be fine for the empty clip cartridges to be alignedwith the bunch-separating means before the hair extensions are pulledthrough them. In order for the above system to function mosteffectively, it should be configured as follows: The clip cartridgesshould be placed below the bunch-separating means. (Below meaning downline with respect to the direction that the hair extensions are pulledfrom their source.) The cutting means should be placed between thebunch-separating means and the clip cartridges. Thus, after cutting, thebunch-separating means will still be threaded with hair bunches. Thiswill allow a device to pinch the bunch tips extending from thebunch-separating means and pull them further through. Thispinch-and-pull means itself is likely to have hair-holding channels thatalign congruently with those of the bunch-separating means and clipcartridges. As such, it might be configured as two layers with channelsof a similar shape, width, and spacing as those of the bunch-separatingmeans. To pinch hair bunches one or both of these two layers could sliderelative to each other to narrow their hair-pinching channels. Thispinch-and-pull means could continue to pinch a batch of bunches untilafter they have been cut. This would provide tension on the hairextensions during both cartridge filling and hair extension cutting.Ideally, the pinch-and-pull means should be formed out of or coated witha high coefficient of friction material such as silicone rubber. Saidbunch-separating means could itself be configured as two layers withpinching capability. If so, the bunch-separating means could pinch hairbunches to aid in steadying them during cartridge filling or hairextension cutting, but release this pinch when the filled clipcartridges are removed.

Regardless of how the clip cartridges are filled, they can be conveyedinto the position where they are to be filled in various ways. In thecase of disposable introduction clip cartridges, they could be fed intoposition as a continuous web. After filling, this continuous web couldbe broken or cut into individual disposable introduction clipcartridges, such as the one illustrated by FIG. 99. This web might bewound into a coil. This web might be conveyed by gear-like interlockwith some rotating or reciprocating part. For example, referring to FIG.99, the holes at the lateral edges of each introduction cartridge couldbe engaged by cogs in a wheel.

If individual attachment stack-ready cartridges are used, they should beloaded onto some holding means that moves them into position forfilling.

Regardless of the type of clip cartridges used, they have to be alignedwith the bunch-separating means in order to get filled. This can happenin a variety of ways. The clip cartridges and their holding means canmove towards the bunch separating means; the bunch-separating means, thepinch-and-pull means, and the cutting means can move together as a unittowards the clip cartridges; a combination of these two events canoccur.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

We expect that this invention will be applied to the hair-care industryas a professional product used in hair salons, rather than being used asa home product. There are two reasons for this. First, because of therelative complexity of this family of devices, it is most advisable forthem to be operated by highly trained users. Second, since these systemsare much more elaborate than any hair-care device up to this time, theywill be correspondingly more expensive to manufacture. Thus, theyideally should be used in a professional setting where their higher costcan be spread out over many users. The operation of this device by ahairstylist has already been described in the above description.However, this not to say units for home use couldn't be economicallyimplemented. We expect the various embodiments of this system to operatefast enough that they can process an entire human head of hair in amatter of minutes.

1. An apparatus for the relative movement of hairs through andfacilitation of their controlled isolation, comprising: A hair isolationarea means for substantially isolating at least one surface-attachedhair-like fiber from any said surface-attached hair-like fibers trailingit; a cued hair supply means for supplying cued surface-attachedhair-like fibers in which the hair-like fibers are cued substantially inthe order that they will be supplied and between two supply cycles saidcued surface-attached hair-like fibers remain substantially cued so thata substantially defined set of the trailing cued hairs can be suppliedimmediately after those leading hairs that were supplied in theimmediately prior supply cycle and yet to be successfully supplied hairswait their turn substantially in cue to be supplied in the followingsupply cycle; a repeating dispensing means for repeatedly dispensingsubstantially intact a substantially controlled amount of hair into saidhair isolation area means by repeatedly receiving hair from said cuedhair supply means and dispensing it into said hair isolation area means.2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a dispensing actuationmeans for actuating said repeating dispensing means; a hair-flowsequencing control means for controlling the actuation of saiddispensing actuation means so as to dispense hair into said hairisolation area means at a moment in the processing sequence when saidhair isolation area means is ready to accept more hair.
 3. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising: a hair processing means for processingsaid surface-attached hair-like fibers so as to change their cosmeticappearance, whereby it processes hairs in said hair isolation areameans; a hair processing actuation means for actuating said hairprocessing means; a hair processing sequencing control means forcontrolling the actuation of said hair processing actuation means inorder to cause the actuation of said hair processing means so thatprocessing occurs when said surface-attached hair-like fibers arepositioned appropriately relative to said hair processing means so as tobe ready for processing.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprisinga straightening maintenance means for providing and maintaininglongitudinal lengths of said surface-attached hairs in a substantiallyperpendicular orientation relative to their direction of movementthrough relevant portions of said apparatus.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4wherein said straightening maintenance means comprises a hair tensioningmeans for applying tension to said surface-attached hairs so as to causethe orientation of their longitudinal shafts relative to the surfacewhich they are attached to be substantially perpendicular.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 4 wherein said straightening maintenance meanscomprises a perpendicular orientation sensor control means for providingand maintaining said surface-attached hairs in a substantiallyperpendicular orientation relative to their direction of movementthrough by using sensor-controlled movement of said relevant portions ofsaid apparatus relative to said surface-attached hairs.
 7. The apparatusof claim 6 wherein said perpendicular orientation sensor control meanscomprises a tension-based sensor-control means for basing relativemovement control of said relevant portions of said apparatus on tensiondetected in said surface-attached hair-like fibers.
 8. The apparatus ofclaim 6 wherein said perpendicular orientation sensor control meanscomprises a speed-based sensor control means for basing relativemovement control of said relevant portions of said apparatus on speed ofadvancement of said relevant portions of said apparatus relative to thesurface of hair attachment.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidrepeating dispensing means comprises a hair transport means for engaginga limited number of hairs in said cued hair supply means andtransporting them into said hair isolation area means.
 10. The apparatusof claim 9 further comprising a hair processing means for processingsaid surface-attached hair-like fibers in a manner so as to change theircosmetic appearance in which at least some of the cosmetic change isfacilitated using a force whose source is independent of any forceapplied by any movement of said hair transport means, whereby said hairprocessing means is positioned so as to have access to hairs in saidhair isolation area means.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9 furthercomprising a subsequent hair transport means for engaging the hairsprovided to said hair isolation area means by said repeating dispensingmeans and further transporting said hairs.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said repeating dispensing means comprises a hair pathwayobstruction means for intermittently obstructing the path of hair flowfrom said cued hair supply means to said hair isolation area means. 13.The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a hair metering area thatis positioned at a point along the hair-flow pathway earlier encounteredthan said hair pathway obstruction means so that the path of hair flowfrom said hair metering area into said hair isolation area means isintermittently obstructed by said hair pathway obstruction means; a hairpushback gate means for intermittently obstructing the path of hair flowfrom said cued hair supply means into said metering area so as tosubstantially isolate a limited number of hairs in said metering areabetween said hair pushback gate means and said hair pathway obstructionmeans allowing substantially only the hairs in said metering area topass said hair pathway obstruction means upon its intermittent allowanceof hair flow.
 14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: ahair-extension supply means for supplying hair extensions into said hairisolation area means; a hair attachment substance means for attachingsaid hair extensions to said surface-attached hair-like fibers, wherebysaid attachment substance means provides continued attachment of thehairs; a hair attachment substance supply means for supplying said hairattachment substance means into said hair isolation area means in whichit comes in contact with both said hair extensions and saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers so as to attach the two types offibers together.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising anattachment substance supply sequencing control means for controllingsaid hair attachment substance supply means so as to provide said hairattachment substance means into said hair isolation area means at amoment in the processing sequence when the hairs to be attached are insaid hair isolation area means.
 16. The apparatus of claim 14 furthercomprising: an attachment substance fixation means for fixing saidattachment substance means so as to effectuate the attachment of saidhair extensions to said surface-attached hair-like fibers; an attachmentsubstance fixation supply means for supplying said attachment substancefixation means into said hair isolation area means so that it may beintroduced to said attachment substance means in order to effectuateattachment of the hairs.
 17. The apparatus of claim 14 furthercomprising an excess attachment substance removal means for removing anyexcess of said hair attachment substance means from said hair isolationarea means so as to leave a coating of said hair attachment substancemeans on the hairs to be attached.
 18. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising: a longitudinal hair movement means for moving at least oneof said surface-attached hair-like fibers in a longitudinal directionalong its shaft relative to and through said hair isolation area meansso as to convey a length of said surface-attached hair-like fiberthrough said hair isolation area means; a coating substance; a coatingsubstance supply means for supplying said coating substance to saidsurface-attached hairlike fiber that is in said hair isolation areameans so as to coat said surface-attached hair-like fiber as it isconveyed longitudinally through said hair isolation area means.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a longitudinal hair movementmeans for moving at least one of said hair surface-attached hair-likefibers in a longitudinal direction along its shaft relative to andthrough said hair isolation area means so as to convey a length of saidsurface-attached hair-like fiber through said hair isolation area means;a cross-sectional reshaping means for reshaping the cross-sectionalshape of said surface-attached hair-like fiber as it is conveyedlongitudinally through relative to said cross-sectional reshaping meansby said longitudinal hair movement means, whereby said cross-sectionalreshaping means is situated to have access to the hair fiber as it islongitudinally conveyed through said hair isolation area means.
 20. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a hair surface row segregationmeans for segregating said surface-attached hair-like fiberssubstantially originating from two adjacent surface areas so that thesegments of the hair shafts that will be processed are segregated in aspecific row prior to and during hair dispensing by said repeatingdispensing means and said hair surface row segregation means rests onthe surface to which said surfaced-attached hair-like fibers areattached and is substantially stationary relative to said surface duringprocessing; a track guide means for guiding said repeating dispensingmeans by substantially continuous contact between said track guide meansand said repeating dispensing means so as to provide alignment with oneof the segregated rows of surface-attached hair-like fibers so as toallow the hair segments from substantially only this single segregatedrow to be guided into said repeating dispensing means as it moves alonga substantially defined path that substantially coincides with saidsingle segregated row and this alignment during repeating dispensingmeans movement is possible individually for both adjacent rows ofsegregated surface-attached hair segments.
 21. The apparatus of claim 20further comprising: a position ascertaining means for ascertaininglongitudinal position of said hair isolation area means along a specificrow of said track guide means; a row determination means forascertaining within which of the segregated rows said hair isolationarea means is positioned; a longitudinal conveyance means for conveyinga longitudinal segment of a group of at least one surface-attached hairslongitudinally through said hair isolation area means; a hair lengthmeasurement means for ascertaining the longitudinal length of saidlongitudinal segment of the group of surface-attached hairs that hasbeen conveyed through said hair isolation area means by saidlongitudinal conveyance means; a cutting means for cutting hair that isin said hair isolation area means; a cutting control means for usingdata coming from said position ascertaining means and said rowdetermination means and said hair length measurement means andcorresponding to a specific longitudinal position along a specificsegregated row to compare to intended hair length data substantiallycorresponding to the position so as to trigger said cutting means to cutthe group of longitudinally conveyed hairs at a moment when the group'slinear length measured from said cutting means to the surface of hairattachment approximately equals the intended hair length.
 22. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising a bend-under means for applyinga conveying force that conveys surface-attached,hair-like fibers throughsaid apparatus at a rate faster than said apparatus is moving relativeto the surface of hair attachment causing said surface-attachedhair-like fibers to be conveyed substantially longitudinally along theirshafts through and relative to said apparatus and under an obstructingportion of said apparatus.
 23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein saidbend-under means comprises a below obstruction bend-under means forengaging said surface-attached hair-like fibers at a location partiallybelow an obstructing portion of said apparatus and applying a conveyingforce that conveys the hair-like fibers at a rate faster than saidapparatus is moving relative to the surface of hair attachment causingsaid hair-like fibers to be conveyed longitudinally along their shaftsthrough said apparatus and under said obstructing portion of saidapparatus.
 24. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein said bend-under meanscomprises a rotary conveyance means for applying a conveying force tosaid surface-attached hair-like fibers by engaging said surface-attachedhair-like fibers at a point which moves on a rotary mechanism.
 25. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising an apparatus elevationconveyance means for applying a relative conveying force to saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers by elevating an obstructing portion ofsaid apparatus away from the surface to which said hair-like fibers areattached so as to convey the fibers substantially longitudinally alongtheir shafts through said apparatus and under said obstructing portionof said apparatus.
 26. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: anattachment substance degrading means for degrading an attachmentsubstance that is holding hair extensions together with saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers; an attachment degrading applicationmeans for applying said attachment substance application degrading meansto hairs isolated in said hair isolation area means; a detached hairextension separation conveyance means for conveying hair extensionsdetached by said attachment substance degrading means away from saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers.
 27. The apparatus of claim 1 furthercomprising: a hair-flow reversing means for causing surface-attachedhairs that have entered said hair isolation area means to exit itsubstantially in the reverse net relative direction that they approachedsaid hair isolation area means to enter it; an exiting hair separationmeans for intermittently substantially separating the exiting hairs thatreversed direction so as to exit said hair isolation area means from thehairs in said cued hair supply means and said exiting hair separationmeans is positioned along the hair-flow path between said hair isolationarea means and the hairs in said cued hair supply means; a reversed hairexit pathway means for allowing the exiting hairs that have beenreversed in direction out of said hair isolation area means by saidhair-flow reversing means to exit said apparatus through said reversedhair exit pathway means and its origin is positioned along the hair-flowpath between said exiting hair separation means and said hair isolationarea means and its terminus is positioned clear of the path of hair flowinto said repeating dispensing means so as to direct the exiting hairsaway from reentering said repeating dispensing means.
 28. The apparatusof claim 1 further comprising a post-isolation hair transport means forengaging at least one of said surface-attached hair-like fibers in saidhair isolation area means and transporting said surface-attachedhair-like fiber.
 29. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hairpresence sensor means for sensing the presence of at least one of saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers in said hair isolation area means. 30.An apparatus for attaching hair extensions to surface-attached hair-likefibers, comprising: a hair attachment area in which said hair extensionsare attached to said surface-attached hair-like fibers; a hair-extensionsupply means for supplying hair extensions into said hair attachmentarea; a surface-attached hair-like fiber supply means for supplying saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers into said attachment area; a hairattachment substance means for attaching said hair extensions to saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers; a hair attachment substance supplymeans for supplying said hair attachment substance means into said hairattachment area in which it comes in contact with both said hairextensions and said surface-attached hair-like fibers so as to attachthe two types of hairs together.
 31. The apparatus of claim 30 furthercomprising an attachment substance supply sequencing control means forcontrolling said hair attachment substance supply means so as to triggerrelease of said hair attachment substance means into said hairattachment area at a moment in the processing sequence when the hairs tobe attached are in said hair attachment area.
 32. The apparatus of claim30 wherein said surface-attached hair-like fiber supply meanssubstantially supplies said surface-attached hair-like fibers by way ofsaid apparatus's relative movement along a vector whose direction issubstantially parallel to the surface to which said surface-attachedhair-like fibers are attached so as to encourage these fibers to entersaid surface-attached hair-like fiber supply means and this direction ofmovement is substantially continuous between entrance of two separatebatches of hair into said hair attachment area.
 33. The apparatus ofclaim 32 further comprising a bend-under means for applying a conveyingforce that conveys said surface-attached hair-like fibers through saidapparatus substantially longitudinally along their shafts at a linearrate faster than said apparatus is moving along a vector whose netdirection is substantially parallel relative to the surface to whichsaid surface-attached hair-like fibers are attached so. as to cause saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers to be conveyed substantiallylongitudinally along their shafts through and relative to said apparatusand under an obstructing portion of said apparatus, thereby assistingtheir exit from said apparatus.
 34. The apparatus of claim 30 whereinsaid surface-attached hair-like fiber supply means substantiallysupplies said surface-attached hair-like fibers by moving along a vectorwhose relative direction is substantially parallel to the surface towhich said surface-attached hair-like fibers are attached so as toencourage these fibers to enter said surface-attached hair-like fibersupply means and this direction of movement is substantially continuousbetween entrance of two separate batches of hair into said hairattachment area, further comprising: a hair-flow reversing means forcausing surface-attached hairs that have entered said hair attachmentarea to exit it substantially in the reverse net relative direction thatthey approached said hair attachment area to enter it; an exiting hairseparation means for intermittently substantially separating the exitinghairs that reversed direction so as to exit said hair attachment areafrom the hairs in said surface-attached hair-like fiber supply meansthat have yet to enter said hair attachment area and said exiting hairseparation means is positioned along the hair-flow path between saidhair attachment area and the hairs in said surface-attached hair-likefiber supply means that have yet to enter and be cosmetically processedin said attachment area; a reversed hair exit pathway means for allowingthe exiting hairs that have been reversed in direction out of said hairattachment area by said hair-flow reversing means to exit said apparatusthrough said reversed hair exit pathway means and its origin ispositioned along the hair-flow path between said exiting hair separationmeans and said hair attachment area and its terminus is positioned clearof the entrance path of hair flow into said attachment area so as todirect the exiting hairs away from reentering said attachment area. 35.An apparatus for the processing of hairs which are attached to a surfaceconfigured so that processing of any hair only occurs a substantiallycontrolled number of times, comprising: a hair processing means forprocessing surface-attached hair-like fibers so as to change theirappearance as a group; a hair surface row segregation means forsegregating said surface-attached hair-like fibers substantiallyoriginating from two adjacent surface areas so that the segments of thehair shafts that will be processed are segregated in a specific rowprior to and during processing by said hair processing means and saidhair surface row segregation means rests on the surface to which saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers are attached and is substantiallystationary relative to said surface during processing,; a track guidemeans for guiding said hair processing means by substantially continuouscontact between said track guide means and said hair processing means soas to provide alignment with one of the segregated rows ofsurface-attached hair-like fibers to allow the hair segments fromsubstantially only this single segregated row to be guided into saidhair processing means as it moves along a substantially defined paththat substantially coincides with said single segregated row and thisalignment during hair processing means movement is possible individuallyfor both adjacent rows of segregated surface-attached hair segments. 36.The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said hair processing means comprises ameans for attaching hair extensions to said surface-attached hair-likefibers and further comprising: a hair attachment area in which said hairextensions are attached to said surface-attached hair-like fibers; ahair-extension supply means for supplying hair extensions into said hairattachment area; a surface-attached hair-like fiber supply means forsupplying said surface-attached hair-like fibers into said attachmentarea; a hair attachment substance means for attaching said hairextensions to said surface-attached hair-like fibers; a hair attachmentsubstance supply means for supplying said hair attachment substancemeans into said hair attachment area in which it comes in contact withboth said hair extensions and said surface-attached hair-like fibers soas to attach the two types of hairs together.
 37. The apparatus of claim35 wherein said hair surface row segregation means comprises multiplerows that together substantially form a cap structure that substantiallyconforms to a human head.
 38. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein saidhair processing means comprises a hair cutting means for cutting saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers so as to change their appearance as agroup.
 39. The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said hair processing meanscomprises a hair extension attachment means for attaching hairextensions to said surface-attached hair-like fibers so as to change theappearance of said surface-attached hair-like fibers as a group.
 40. Theapparatus of claim 35 wherein said hair processing means comprises across-sectional reshaping means for reshaping the cross-sectional shapeof said surface-attached hair-like fibers as they are longitudinallyconveyed through relative to said cross-sectional reshaping means. 41.The apparatus of claim 35 wherein said hair processing means comprises ahair coating application means for applying a coating to saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers as they are longitudinally conveyedthrough relative to said hair coating application means.
 42. Theapparatus of claim 35 wherein said hair processing means comprises asub-dermal hair plug delivery means for delivering a hair plugsub-dermally into to the surface of hair attachment so as to change theappearance of the pre-existing surface-attached hair-like fibers as agroup and wherein said surface of hair attachment is the scalp.
 43. Anapparatus for attaching non-surface-attached hair-like fibers to asurface amongst surface-attached hair-like fibers already attached tosaid surface, comprising: a hair channel pathway means for guiding saidsurface-attached hair-like fibers into an area of high concentrationcoinciding with said hair channel pathway means so as to leave an areaof decreased surface-attached hair-like fiber concentration lateral tosaid hair channel pathway means; an application area means for applyingnon-surface-attached hair-like fibers in proximity to said surfacewherein said application area means is positioned to substantiallycoincide with said area of decreased surface-attached hair-like fiberconcentration; a supply means for supplying said non-surface-attachedhair-like fibers into said application area means; an attachment meansfor attaching said non-surface-attached hair-like fibers in saidapplication area means to said surface, whereby saidnon-surface-attached hair-like fibers may either be attached directly tosaid surface or indirectly attached to said surface by way of attachmentto the pre-existing surface-attached hair-like fibers.
 44. The apparatusof claim 43 wherein said supply means comprises a unified group supplymeans for supplying a unified group of non-surface-attached hair-likefibers into said application area means.
 45. The apparatus of claim 43wherein said application area means comprises an attachment area meansin which attachment of non-surface-attached hair-like fibers to saidsurface occurs.
 46. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein saidnon-surface-attached hair-like fibers are in the form of a hair plug andwherein said attachment means comprises a subdermal hair plug deliverymeans for delivering said hair plug sub-dermally into to the surface ofhair attachment and wherein said surface of hair attachment is thescalp.
 47. An apparatus for the cross-sectional reshaping of asurface-attached hair-like fiber comprising: a hair isolation area meansin which at least a single surface-attached hair-like fiber can besubstantially isolated from other surface-attached hair-like fibers; alongitudinal hair movement means for moving at least one of said hairsurface-attached hair-like fibers in a longitudinal direction along itsshaft relative to and through said hair isolation area means so as toconvey a length of said surface-attached hair-like fiber through saidhair isolation area means; a cross-sectional reshaping means forreshaping the cross-sectional shape of said surface-attached hair-likefiber as it is conveyed longitudinally through relative to saidcross-sectional reshaping means by said longitudinal hair movementmeans, whereby said cross-sectional reshaping means is situated to haveaccess to the hair fiber as it is longitudinally conveyed through saidhair isolation area means.
 48. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein saidcross-sectional reshaping means is comprised of a cutting edge thatshaves material off the surface of said surface-attached hair-like fiberas it is conveyed through relative to said hair isolation area means.49. The apparatus of claim 47 wherein said hair isolation area means issupplied said surface-attached hair-like fibers by apparatus's relativemovement along a vector whose direction is substantially parallel to thesurface to which said surface-attached hair-like fibers are attached soas to encourage these fibers to enter said hair isolation area means andthis direction of movement is substantially continuous between entranceof two separate batches of hair into said hair isolation area means.